Dubai Airports projects 13.6% passenger growth in 2010

Dubai Airports released (14-Sep-09) updated traffic forecasts for Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC-AMI). It projects combined 13.6% year-on-year international passenger traffic growth for 2010. Total passenger traffic is forecast to reach 40.5 million by the end of 2009 and 46 million in 2010.

The first phase of DWC-AMI is expected to stimulate traffic when it opens in Jun-2010. Approximately one million passengers are expected to pass through DWC-AMI during its short operational period in 2010. Phase 1 of the airport is being designed for future expansion with a single A380 compatible runway, a passenger terminal with capacity to handle five million passengers p/a, expandable to seven million passengers p/a, and a cargo terminal capable of handling 250,000 tonnes p/a, expandable to 600,000 tonnes p/a. The cargo terminal is also linked to a dedicated road to region's largest port in Jebel Ali. [more]

Dubai Airports: "Improving economic conditions, state-of-the-art infrastructure, strong expansion by Emirates Airline and emerging low cost carrier flydubai and an open skies policy that promotes market access to other international airlines are driving this growth. New aircraft types such as the A380 and B777ER are shrinking our globe and amplifying the attractiveness of Dubai's strategic location for international and regional operations. As a result Dubai International has seen traffic triple in just 8 years,"Paul Griffiths, CEO. Source: Dubai Airports, 14-Sep-09.