Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012
Gulf News
Dubai The Dubai World Central (DWC) airport handled 89,729 tonnes of air freight last year, its first full year of operations, Dubai Airports said yesterday.
Announcing 2011 traffic statistics, Dubai Airports said that cargo transit traffic constituted 32,989 tonnes or 37 per cent of volume.
DWC’s average monthly air cargo volumes totalled 7,477 tonnes compared to 795 tonnes per month in the first half of 2010.
The year saw 8,198 flights of which 3,609 (44 per cent) were commercial cargo flights, 4,548 (55.5 per cent) were test and training flights and 41 (0.5 per cent) were general aviation operations. During 2011, 36 airlines operated at DWC, predominantly as cargo charter operations.
“Although the airport is in its infancy, incremental cargo traffic growth has been steady and continues to ramp up as new operations are launched,” Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.
He added that sea to air freight traffic growth was particularly robust as airlines took advantage of the airport’s bonded link to Jebel Ali port.
“Additionally the road feeder service operating between Dubai International and DWC airports facilitated the smooth flow of transit air freight. Combined, Dubai’s two airports handled 2,279,219 tonnes of air freight in 2011, which is up marginally from 2010,” Griffiths said.
By 2015, cargo volumes are expected to top three million tonnes, exceeding the current capacity of Dubai International Airport, Griffiths said. “We expect a good proportion of that growth to spill over to Dubai World Central.”
Operational trials for DWC’s passenger terminal are set to start in the second quarter. “We could see commercial passenger operations commence in 2013,” Griffiths said.
Staff Report
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
