Abu Dhabi airport passenger traffic up 12%

Abu Dhabi international airport saw passenger traffic grow 12.2 per cent in 2010 as new airlines started operations and existing ones expanded to new destinations, the airport's operating company said on Sunday.

Nearly 11 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010, a statement from the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) said.

"2010 witnessed strong traffic development at Abu Dhabi International Airport, well above the world airport's average growth," James Bennett, chief executive of Adac said in the statement.

In 2010, the airport added five new international airlines, six new destinations and serviced an average of 41 additional frequencies from its existing airlines - a 13 per cent increase in the total weekly outbound flights compared with the previous year. London, Bangkok, Doha, Manila and Cairo continue to be the top five routes, collectively claiming 20 per cent of the total passenger traffic during 2010, Adac said.

The airport handled 438,000 tonnes of cargo in 2010, up 16 per cent over the previous year.

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