Dubai Airport traffic up 13.2%

Dubai International Airport has registered a 13.2 per cent increase in passenger traffic for April. Dubai Airports has said the figure was a rebound following the volcanic eruption in Iceland in April 2010. A total of 4.23 million passengers passed through the airport last month and year-to-date arrivals are up 8.5 per cent to 16.5 million.

The GCC recorded the largest increase in total passenger numbers in April up 29.1 per cent (+153,864 passengers), followed by Western Europe which grew by 20.1 per cent (+142,185). Routes to the Indian Subcontinent recorded 9.4 per cent growth (+83,718 passengers), while those to Russia and the CIS grew by 25.4 per cent (+22,286 passengers). Middle Eastern routes witnessed a drop of 2.4 per cent (-9,581) as traffic continues to be affected by political unrest, it said.

Aircraft movements for the month totalled 26,597 up 6.7 per cent from 24,917 recorded during the same period last year. Dubai International handled 179,397 tonnes of international air freight in April, up 5.6 per cent from the 169,902 tonnes recorded during the same period in 2010. The year to date freight volume has reached 686,679 tonnes, a contraction of 0.3 per cent compared to 688,537 tonnes for the corresponding period last year.

"We have surpassed the four million passenger mark three out of the first four months of the year and that trend is set to continue," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

"Our busiest summer ever is just around the corner and we will be working hard to maintain high service levels and ensure the comfort of our customers." Outside of the domestic market, Western Europe marked the largest total number of passengers, up 20.1 per cent (142,185 pax), while passenger growth was also seen from the India and Russia and the CIS markets at 9.4 per cent (+83,718) and 25.4 per cent (+22, 286) respectively.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.