Dubai airports ready for lift-off

DUBAI – Dubai Airports has revealed year-on-year growth of 10.3 per cent in passenger traffic for June.

The three terminals handled a total of 3,36 million passengers in June 2009 up sharply from the same period last year.

Following 2.1 percent growth during the first quarter, passenger traffic at Dubai International rose by 6.4 percent in April, and 7.1 percent in May.

During the first six months of 2009 Dubai International handled almost 19.5 million passengers, up five percent over the same period in 2008.

“Passenger traffic is on the rise and cargo is holding its own in a very tough economic environment,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

“Growth is being driven by strong demand during the peak summer period, the growing strength and attractiveness of the Dubai hub, underpinned by the continued expansion of Emirates, and an influx of new airlines at a rate of one per month.”

Griffiths said that the outlook remains strong for the balance of the summer period through to the end of September and beyond.

“The fact that Dubai International is recording double-digit passenger growth during the deepest global recession in decades bodes well for the future. When the current economic situation improves, Dubai will be in good shape, ready to lead the global recovery in air travel,” Griffiths added.