Queen Alia International Airport Welcomes 7.4 Million Passengers in 2016
29-Jan-2017 In 2016, Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) welcomed 7,410,274 passengers, setting a new record for annual passenger traffic. According to figures released by Airport International Group- the Jordanian company responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of QAIA - the Airport witnessed a 4.4% increase in PAX in comparison to the previous year. Aircraft movement (ACM) figures also rose slightly in 2016, experiencing an overall growth of 2.8% and totaling 73,784, whereas cargo traffic figures registered a marginal year-to-date (YTD) increase of 0.5%, settling at 101,172 tons.
In December 2016, QAIA welcomed 538,866 passengers, establishing a new benchmark for QAIA's highest-ever monthly December PAX and signaling a 1.1% year-on-year increase in comparison to the 533,051 PAX received in the same period of last year. QAIA also witnessed an increase in ACM, registering 5,953 ACM as opposed to 5,813 in December 2015. Meanwhile, QAIA handled 8,917 tons of cargo in comparison to the 9,764 tons handled in the same period in 2015, bringing about a year-on-year fall of 8.7%.
From January through May 2016, QAIA witnessed consistent year-on-year growth in PAX, ACM and handled cargo, which continued until the start of the region's low travel season during the holy month of Ramadan. In August 2016, QAIA registered its highest monthly passenger traffic in the Airport's 34-year history, receiving a record-breaking 830,259 passengers.
"2016 was a year of landmark achievements, during which QAIA broke several passenger traffic records while also laying the foundations for further growth. The completion of the second phase of QAIA's New Terminal Project, inaugurated by HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II in September, not only considerably raised the Airport's passenger capacity, but also delivered on the Group's promise to provide a cutting-edge airport of which Jordanians can be proud," said Airport International Group CEO, Kjeld Binger. "Moving forward, we will continue to build on this year's success, and to work toward ensuring that Jordan's prime gateway to the world lives up to its people's expectations and aspirations."