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Abu Dhabi International Airport Aims
for 12pc Rise in Passenger Traffic

DUBAI — Abu Dhabi International Airport aims to achieve 12 per cent passengers’ growth in May despite global financial crisis, which slowdown the activities in aviation sector, said its top official on Tuesday.

“The airport recorded 12 per cent growth in April and we are approaching the same figures for May, said Rudy Vercelli, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airport Company, or ADAC, at the Airport Show.

ADAC operates three airports in the emirate, including the international airport in Abu Dhabi city.

The airport recorded significant growth in the last five years from 5.21 per cent to 9.02 per cent in 2008.

In March Abu Dhabi airport recorded an overall passenger increase of 7.9 per cent compared to the same month in the previous year, and a daily average of 24,833 passengers. Aircraft movements also increased
 by 4.5 per cent.

The airport witnessed 10 per cent growth in January and 6 per cent in February this year. ADAC in April finished a Dh1 billion new terminal in Abu Dhabi International Airport, expanding its capacity to over 12 million passengers a year from the current 5 million passengers a year. Vercelli ruled out any delay in the ongoing infrastructure development project at the airport.

“All our projects are on schedule and we are not slowing down by any means,” he said and added: “We are keeping up all our projects on fast track.” ADAC also runs Al Ain International Airport, located 20 km northwest of Abu Dhabi city, and Al Bateen airport, 10 km outside Abu Dhabi, which caters to business jets.

Vercelli said Al Ain was well suited to expand cargo, logistics and low-cost airline services. ADAC in April had said its Logistics Park will commence welcoming tenants during 2009.

He said, “We are doing a lot for training and education for the next generation. Construction of the first phase of development is currently underway, and the development of phase II is expected to make a start in 2011, with the full project due to be completed by 2015.”
 — abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com