Passenger traffic at Dubai International reaches 22.5 million in H1 2010

Dubai International notched up a solid first half with Dubai Airports announcing year-to-date (June) passenger traffic of 22,554,445, compared to 19,397,089 during the corresponding period in 2009. This represents an increase of 16.3%. The performance follows Dubai International’s twelve consecutive months of double-digit growth in passenger traffic from June 2009 to May 2010.
 
Dubai International handled a total of 3,684,192 passengers in June 2010 compared to 3,361,413 in June 2009, representing a growth of 9.6%. The average monthly passenger traffic in the first half this year stands at 3.7 million as compared to 3.1 million during the corresponding period in 2009. The year-to-date daily average passenger throughput at Dubai International has reached 123,000.
 
Cargo continued its upward trend throughout the first half ending with a year-to-date movement of 1,101,856 tons of freight compared to 874,828 tons during the same period in 2009, an increase of 26%.
 
Dubai International handled a total of 184,576 tons of cargo in June 2010, up 21.2% compared to 152,258 tons in June 2009. It marks the ninth consecutive month of double-digit growth in cargo tonnage at Dubai International after a sharp upturn in freight began with the start of the final quarter of 2009.
 
Commenting on the report, Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, noted that the growth in passenger traffic and cargo volumes is a sign of improving economic situation around the world: “As the numbers clearly suggest, many major airports around the world are starting to display positive growth following an almost year-long spell of double-digit decrease in traffic. Dubai International was the only airport among the major international hubs recording positive growth throughout this period. As the global economic situation continues to improve further, our performance will only grow stronger.”
 
Griffiths said that in the first half of 2010, over 145 weekly flights were launched to over 21 destinations across Asia, Europe and Africa by different passenger carriers, including Emirates and flydubai. Dubai International currently serves 130 airlines flying to over 220 destinations across six continents.