Passenger numbers at Abu Dhabi’s airport increase by 40%

More than four million passengers passed through Abu Dhabi International Airport in the first six months of this year – a 38.6 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) said there had been massive growth in all the three segments of the airport – passenger numbers, aircraft movements and cargo handling.

About 4.3 million passengers, including transit and transfer, used the airport in the first half of 2008 compared to 3.1 million in the same period last year, said Adac yesterday.

Similarly, there was a significant growth of 16.8 per cent in the movement of aircraft in the first half of the year. The number of aircraft, including cargo and general aviation, using the airport swelled to 45,917 in the first half, from 39,300 in the same period last year.

The airport handled 172,762 tonnes of cargo compared to 149,210 tonnes in the same period last year, a growth of 15.8 per cent.

Attributing the growth to Abu Dhabi’s strategic location and its economic development, CEO Rudy Vercelli said: “It is clear Abu Dhabi is currently enjoying a reversal, or bucking‚ of the industry’s international trends, which demonstrates the strength and growth of the home-based airline, Etihad Airways, and the increasing understanding Abu Dhabi has as a natural, strategic and competitive hub for long-haul transit traffic connecting East and West.

“Although the growth rates here are much higher than global levels, they are more common from a regional standpoint and passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi airport remains in line with anticipated projections.”

Adac said the second quarter alone saw passenger figures grow at a comparatively more modest rate of 29.7 per cent. “The monthly figures for June 2008 (against June 2007), were similarly consistent, with passenger numbers up 35.6 per cent, cargo up 13.2 per cent and aircraft movements in solidly positive territory at 14.1 per cent,” Adac said.