Wednesday, Jul 29, 2015

Dubai

Dubai International, the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic, recorded a 16.7 per cent increase in passenger numbers for the month of June.

The airport handled 5,914,671 passengers in June 2015 compared to 5,067,726 during the same month a year earlier, according to an emailed statement from operator Dubai Airports on Wednesday.

“We are very satisfied with the growth numbers in the first half of the year and anticipate the growth trend to continue throughout the remainder of second half to help us reach our annual forecast of over 79 million passengers,” stated Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports chief executive.

June’s performance lifts the airports half-year passenger figures by 10.4 per cent compared to a year ago with 38,299,291 passengers using the airport in the first six months of 2015 compared to 34,676,090 during the first half of 2014.

The double digit increase in June passenger numbers is due to last years runway refurbishment project at the airport last May and June, which saw an 80 per cent cut in capacity, Dubai Airports said.

“The surge in traffic was countered by a drop in number of passengers during Ramadan which fell in June this year.”

There were 32,114 aircraft landings and take-offs at Dubai International in June, up 45.8 per cent compared to 22,031 a year earlier. Half-year aircraft landings and take-offs reached 199,624, up 16.9 per cent from 170,815 during the first six months of 2014.

Freight volumes increased 17.2 per cent to 217,896 tonnes compared to 185,842 tonnes in June 2014. Year to date cargo volumes reached 1,232,861, up 1.7 per cent compared to 1,212,444 during the first six months in 2014.

By Alexander Cornwell Staff Reporter

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