The first six months of 2011 were the busiest in Dubai International airport’s 50-year history.
Some 24.6 million passengers passed through the airport between January and June 2011, an 8.9% hike on the previous year.
Over the period, some 200 weekly flights were launched from the airport to 19 new destinations.
In terms of aircraft movements, Dubai International saw a 6.2% rise to159,372 in the first half of 2011.
Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports’ CEO, said the traffic growth looks set to continue despite high fuel prices and “growing” economic uncertainty in Europe and the US.
The UK is among the top five destinations served by the airport, alongside India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran.
According to Griffiths, average annual growth at the airport over the next ten years is expected to be 7.2%, which a planned $7.8 billion expansion will accommodate.
“This is being driven by the addition of new routes and frequencies, more wide-bodied aircraft as well as by the attractiveness of Dubai as a business and tourist destination and an efficient transit point,” he said.