In excess of 102,000 passengers passed through Dubai’s second airport Al Maktoum International in the first quarter of this year, as more airlines started operations.
The numbers are the first from the airport, which opened its passenger terminal last October 27.
Al Maktoum expects further growth in the second quarter, with more than 600 flights a week temporarily moving over from Dubai International because of runway repairs. The work takes place over 80 days from today until July 20.
Qatar Airways, the Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air, Kuwait’s Al Jazeera Airways and Bahrain’s Gulf Air already operate flights from Al Maktoum.
The Dubai-based budget carrier flydubai will also operate some flights from Al Maktoum airport, in addition to its operations from terminal 2 at Dubai International.
“Passenger traffic at Al Maktoum will peak during the runway works, but by the time the third and fourth quarter results are in, the airport will handsomely eclipse the 100,000 passengers it has handled in the first quarter of the year,” said Saj Ahmad, the chief analyst at StrategicAero Research.
On the cargo side, freight volumes rose to 76,816 tonnes in the first quarter, up 42.3 per cent from 53,974 tonnes in the same quarter last year.
The increase was primarily because of Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Cargolux moving their dedicated freight operations to Al Maktoum at the end of last year.
The International Air Transport Association said that Middle East carriers continue to report double-digit growth in freight volumes this year. In February they recorded a 11.9 per cent increase, compared to a year ago.
The growth in freight volumes is expected to continue, with Emirates Airline moving its cargo operations to Al Maktoum permanently this month.
“While the wider global cargo market has slowly started to recover, Al Maktoum International Airport provides a unique platform to enhance freight activities thanks to customised operations that leverage the strength that a new airport and infrastructure bring,” said Mr Ahmad.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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