Abu Dhabi airport passenger traffic up 9.8%

Abu Dhabi Airports on Tuesday revealed that the capital’s airport registered a 9.8 per cent increase in passenger traffic for the month of November 2013, compared to the same period in 2012, at 1,330,378 passengers.

Aircraft movements increased by 10.7 per cent at 11,856. Cargo traffic figures were also on the rise, with over 66,516 tonnes of freight handled throughout the month, recording a 33.3 per cent increase compared to the same month last year.

The top five destinations in November 2013 were India, Germany, the UK, Thailand and Pakistan.

In October 2013, Abu Dhabi International Airport registered a 15.8 per cent surge in passenger traffic compared to the same month last year. This traffic growth recorded was driven by the Hajj and Eid season along with the start of the Formula One season at the end of the month.

Aircraft movement reached 11,891 in October 2013, representing a 10.2 per cent increase compared to October 2012, while cargo traffic also grew, marking a 17.9 per cent increase with more than 62,223 tonnes of cargo moved.

Commenting on the airport’s performance, Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, stated, "With the increase of 12.2 per cent in passengers passing through the airport in the last 11 months compared with the same period in 2012, reaching 15 million passengers to date for 2013, such growth reinforces the airport’s position as a growing international aviation hub, and Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to make strategic investments that allow for optimum capacity management and route development."

The Capacity Enhancement Programme currently in progress will enable Abu Dhabi International Airport to accommodate more than 17 million passengers annually through enhancements to existing facilities, the most recent of these being the new Arrivals Hall, which opened earlier this year.

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