Dubai International records 25% passenger growth

DUBAI — Dubai International recorded a 25 per cent year-on-year growth in passenger numbers in September while freight volume also witnessed a double-digit growth, according to its operator.

Dubai Airports, which owns and manages the operations of both the Dubai airports — Dubai International and Al Maktoum International, said year-to-date passenger traffic is up 
15.8 per cent as 34.84 million passengers have passed through Dubai International compared to 30.09 million during the corresponding period last year.

“We are seeing expansion across the board, not only from our usual top flight destinations such as India, the UK, Iran and Germany but we are also seeing significant increases in passenger traffic to and from the US, China and Australia,” Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer Paul Griffiths said.

For the second consecutive month passenger numbers fell just short of the 4 million mark at 3.98 million up 25 per cent compared to the same period last year when 3.19 million passengers passed through the facility.

“Clearly Dubai’s aviation model is working. Open skies, supportive government policies, Dubai’s attractiveness as a business and leisure destination as well as its ideal location as a convenient global transit point are behind this impressive growth,” Griffiths said.

The largest increases in total passenger numbers in September were recorded on routes to and from Western Europe (over 149,510 passengers), Subcontinent (over 148,329 passengers), AGCC countries (over 140,974) and Africa (over 84,317 passengers).

The largest percentage passenger traffic growth was seen on routes to and from Eastern Europe (247 per cent), AGCC countries (36 per cent), Asia and Asia Pacific (33 per cent), Africa (25 per cent) and Western Europe (23 per cent).

Cargo volumes saw double-digit growth for the twelfth consecutive month as September traffic rose 11.3 per cent to 187,390 tonnes compared to 168,335 tonnes recorded during the same period last year.