Dubai International double-digit passenger traffic growth continues
19-Aug-2009 Dubai Airports started off the second half of 2009 on a positive note, with Dubai International registering a 12.6 per cent increase in passenger traffic in July. It is the highest monthly growth-rate recorded since May 2008 (13.8 per cent) and the second consecutive month of double-digit growth in passenger traffic this year following the 10.3 per cent rise recorded in June.
Dubai International handled a total of 3,768,965 passengers in July compared to 3,347,655 during the corresponding period in 2008. The year to date traffic at the end of July stood at 23,148,452 passengers, up 6.1 per cent from the same period last year.
Cargo continues to hold its own in a tough economic environment logging a 1.9 per cent increase in July. Dubai Airports Cargo handled 160,289 tonnes of freight in July 2009 compared to 157,253 tonnes during the same period last year. Year-to-date cargo volumes total 1,035,118 tonnes compared to 1,038,807 tonnes in 2008, a marginal fall of 0.3 per cent.
"The Middle East continues to demonstrate vibrant growth during the global economic downturn and Dubai International is at the epicentre of that growth," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. "The double-digit increases we've seen in the past two months are the direct result of a boost in passenger numbers from Emirates and other long-haul network carriers and continual growth in the low cost sector. As for cargo, considering that airports around the world continue to record sharp decline in freight traffic, we have fared well."
Griffiths said that although the outlook for the remainder of the year is positive, growth figures for August and September are likely to fluctuate, reflecting the annual movement of the timing of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
"Whilst we are encouraged by the continued strong passenger growth, clearly service quality remains an important objective. Our Summer Mission initiative is keeping customer service levels high despite record passenger numbers," Griffiths said.
Dubai International is now ranked the world's 6th busiest airport in terms of International passengers according to Airport Council International's (ACI) latest published figures, ahead of Amsterdam, Singapore and Tokyo. The ACI international freight traffic monthly ranking also lists Dubai Airports Cargo as the world's 4th busiest for international air cargo volumes, ahead of Tokyo, Shanghai and Frankfurt.