Continues to Buck Global Trend
DUBAI, UAE - July 20 - Dubai Airports announced its June traffic results today showing year-on-year growth of 10.3 per cent in passenger traffic for the month.
The three terminals handled a total of 3,361,413 passengers in June 2009 up sharply from 3,048,220 in the same period last year. Following on 2.1% growth during the first quarter, passenger traffic at Dubai International rose by 6.4% in April, and 7.1% in May. During the first six months of 2009 Dubai International handled 19,453,775 passengers, up 5% over the same period in 2008.
A total of 152,278 tonnes of cargo was recorded in June as compared to 155,919 tonnes in June last year - a year-on-year decrease of 2.3%. In the first half of 2009, the airport moved 874,828 tonnes of cargo, a year-on-year fall of 0.76% which compares favourably with the global decline of 22% in international freight.
"Passenger traffic is on the rise and cargo is holding its own in a very tough economic environment," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. "Growth is being driven by strong demand during the peak summer period, the growing strength and attractiveness of the Dubai hub, underpinned by the continued expansion of Emirates, and an influx of new airlines at a rate of one per month."
Griffiths said that the outlook remains strong for the balance of the summer period through to the end of September and beyond.
Dubai Airports is also taking steps to enhance customer service quality. The airport has deployed some 200 volunteers to assist passengers and has issued traveller tips to passengers to ensure a smooth flow through the airport.
"The fact that Dubai International is recording double-digit passenger growth during the deepest global recession in decades bodes well for the future. When the current economic situation improves, Dubai will be in good shape, ready to lead the global recovery in air travel" said Griffiths.
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Editors Notes:
- Dubai Airports owns and manages the operation and development of both of Dubai's airports - Dubai International as well as the upcoming Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International.
Dubai Airports delivers a world-class experience for customers by providing safe, secure and environmentally responsible airports. We work in partnership with airlines, passengers and employees to drive the growth of Dubai as the world's emerging centre for leisure and business.
- Dubai International is the 6th busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic volumes offering connections to over 205 destinations across six continents on 130 airlines.
- Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International, which is under construction, will eventually become the world's largest airport with a capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year.
- New airlines that launched services to Dubai between January and July include Kuwait's Wataniya Airways, Nigerian Kabo Airlines, Icelandic Air Atlanta, Chadian Toumai Air Tchad, Chinese Hainan Airlines, Kingfisher Airways from India, and United Airways from Bangladesh. India's Jet Airways increased it flight frequency to two flights daily to Mumbai and also launched the Chennai-Dubai route this year.
- According to Airports Council International (ACI), the first five months of 2009 showed world passenger traffic declining by 8 percent with international traffic falling by 8 percent and domestic traffic dropping by 7. During the same period total freight declined by 19 percent with international freight dropping by 22 percent and domestic freight falling by 12 per cent.