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Dubai Intl is World’s Fastest Growing Airport

DUBAI - Dubai International on Wednesday posted 9.2 per cent growth by handling a record 40.9 million passengers in 2009 to claim the coveted title as the world’s fastest growing major airport in
 international traffic.

Dubai International, currently connected to over 220 destinations through more than 130 scheduled airlines and 25 frequent charter airlines, is among the four airports among the world’s top 50 busiest airports to record a positive growth in 2009 while the rest suffered declines in passenger traffic, a spokesman of Dubai Airports told
 Khaleej Times.

“We are waiting for the final fourth quarter traffic figures of the other three airports — Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur and Cairo — with an estimated growth of 6.3 per cent, 4.6 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively to reaffirm Dubai International’s ranking as the world’s fastest growing airport in international passenger traffic,” the spokesman said.

“Dubai Airports is setting the pace globally. Dubai International’s performance as one of the world’s fastest growing airports in 2009 is particularly impressive considering the traffic contraction seen globally,” said Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.

Shaikh Ahmed said the rapid growth has strengthened the commitment to continue building Dubai into a world-class global aviation and logistics hub. “If we can set records in a tough economic environment, the sky is the limit for what we can achieve when conditions improve.”

Dubai Airports, which manages the emirate’s two airports including the new Al Maktoum International Airport, has predicted 13.6 per cent growth for Dubai International and in global passenger traffic in 2010, translating into a throughput of
 46 million passengers.

“There are a number of distinct advantages that ensure Dubai International’s growth,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. “We will continue to invest in the future to make sure that we are always able to accommodate more passengers, more flights and deliver a service quality that is world class.”

“Dubai International has capacity for 60 million passengers per year, and that will increase to 75 million passengers when Concourse 3 is completed in 2012,” Griffiths said.

“With international air travel expected to pick up in 2010 owing to improving economic situation worldwide, Dubai Airports expects a number of new carriers to launch services to Dubai International,” said Zaigham Ali, Dubai Airports spokesman.

In 2009, Dubai International handled a total of 278,501 aircraft movements with an average of 830 aircraft movement per day or 35 aircraft movements per hour on 
average, Ali said.

“The airport currently handles an average of 105,000 passengers a day.
 Dubai International is an increasingly attractive hub for airlines around the world due to its location, one of the world’s best airport facilities, and an ever expanding destination network of airlines that it serves, most notably its single largest customer Emirates Airline,” said Ali.

Despite the challenges posed by the global economic downturn, Dubai International’s growth was mainly driven by major international conventions and events, a gradual improvement in the global economy and expansion by the airport’s largest cargo carrier Emirates Airline, Ali said.

In December 2009, Dubai International handled a total of 3,816,360 passengers compared to 3,333,424 passengers during the same month in 2008, an increase of 14.5 per cent. This marked the seventh consecutive double-digit increase in passenger traffic and the second highest monthly increase after September’s 19.5 per cent rise. The full year passenger throughput reached 40,901,752 passengers up 9.2 per cent compared to 37,441,440 passengers recorded in 2008.

Cargo volumes were up 5.6 per cent in 2009 following a dramatic 26 per cent jump in December and double-digit increases during the last quarter of 2009. The full year cargo traffic reached 1,927,520 tonnes compared to 1,824,991 tonnes during the same period in 2008. Dubai Airports Cargo handled 182,874 tonnes of freight in December 2009 compared to 145,176 tonnes during the corresponding month in 2008.


issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com