ADIA Nov passenger traffic up 42 per cent

The airport handled a total of 590,000 passengers in November 2007, a 42 per cent rise over the 416,000 passengers seen in November 2006. Aircraft movements increased 14 per cent during the same period, rising from 6,449 to 7,358. For the year 2007, the number of passengers increased by 30 per cent achieving the milestone of more than 6 million. Aircraft movement showed an uptrend of 8 per cent, having registered a total of 74,476 movements, compared to 68,920 in the same period last year.

Cargo volume increased to 27,137 metric tonnes in November 2007 from 23,454 metric tonnes last year, a growth of 16 per cent.

The month saw the launch of operations of Sama, the Saudi-based budget carrier, which began an international charter service with six days a week flights from Riyadh and Dammam.