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Dubai International Airport Posts Record Growth

DUBAI - Dubai International Airport, already the Middle East’s top aviation and business centre, could yet emerge as the world’s top aviation hub with another record growth in passenger traffic and freight in 2008.

Dubai International which last year opened Terminal 3, the world’s largest terminal, posted a 9.01 per cent increase in passenger traffic from 34.348 million in 2007 to 37.441 million, while cargo throughput rose 9.38 per cent to 1.82 million tonnes from 1.68 million tonnes in the previous year.

“The growth was impressive, especially considering the global economic downturn, the record high price of oil during 2008 and its impact on the overall situation on civil aviation and related sectors worldwide,” said Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai airports.

“Dubai International’s growth in 2008 is a clear sign of the UAE’s sturdy economy and Dubai’s significance, not only to local and regional growth, but to travel, tourism and business globally. The momentum of this growth will have a positive influence on ongoing situations as well as the overall projected growth for Dubai airports for 2009,” he said.

August turned out to be busiest month for the airport with passenger traffic reaching 3.36 million, while February recorded the highest growth rate at 18.83 per cent.

In 2008, an average of three million passengers passed through Dubai International, with a daily average of 100,000 passengers.

Cargo movement was heaviest in September with the Dubai Cargo Village handling 163,836 tonnes of cargo, up 12.7 per cent during the same period in 2007.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths attributed the record rise in passenger and cargo traffic to the opening of Terminal 3 last October 14 which significantly raised the airport’s carrying capacity.

“Not only was the airport handling more passengers than ever before, but our teams worked very closely with police, immigration, customs and our airline customers to achieve higher levels of performance.”

Dubai International deployed some 15,000 volunteers during the peak season to help in easing the flow of passengers in its terminals.

“A lot of effort went into the operational trials. Some 15,000 signed up as volunteers for the three major operational trials, almost four times the initial target of 4,000,” said Griffiths.

Throughout the peak months between June and September, Griffiths stressed there was not one incident of congestion or delay with a record 12 million passengers passing through the airport.

The expanded international airport also allowed the entry of new major international airlines and added new destinations to its network.

Moreover, the airport opened a dedicated check-in facility for passengers without check-in baggage and launched a drive to reach out to passengers with tips on making a smooth passage through the airport.

For its efforts, the Dubai International Airport won nine awards, including the Middle East World Travel Awards 2008, Business Traveller ME, and Aviation Business.

The completion of Terminal 3 formed part of the major streamlining undertaken by Dubai International since October 2007 which aimed to increase the efficiency and exceed global standards in airport management.

The government of Dubai committed to a major expansion plan of $4.1 billion for the Dubai International Airport and its affiliated divisions.

· rocel@khaleejtimes.com