Dubai, UAE – December 24, 2012 – Passenger traffic at Dubai International is all set to surpass the projected target of 56.5 million for the year, as the world’s fourth busiest hub for international passengers racked up another month of double digit growth this November, according to the monthly traffic report issued by Dubai Airports. The airport operator revealed that traffic is forecast to reach 66 million in 2013.

With monthly traffic in November reaching 4,875,003, up 10 per cent over 4,431,673 in the corresponding month in 2011, the airport continued to enjoy double-digit growth in passenger numbers in all but two months of the year so far. The year to date traffic (November) totalled 52,363,589 compared with 46,287,234 during the same period last year, an increase of 13.1 per cent.

 

Western Europe recorded the largest increase in total passenger numbers* in November (+153,089 passengers), followed by the Indian subcontinent (+94,876), Asia (+48,237), and Africa (+42,683). Contraction in traffic on Middle Eastern routes continued (-53,444) owing to the impact of the ongoing situation in certain parts of the region.

The strongest markets in terms of percentage passenger growth were South America (+98.9 per cent) driven by new Emirates airline’s operations to destinations there, followed by Russia and CIS (+22.6 per cent), Australasia (21 per cent ) and North America (+20 per cent) as a result of increase in demand on US routes launched during the year.

 

Aircraft movements in November increased by 2.3 per cent to 29,749 from 29,093 recorded during the same month in 2011. The year to date movements totalled 313,300, up 5.6 per cent from 296,799 movements between January and November 2011.

 

Dubai International handled 200,060 tonnes of cargo in November, an increase of 4.4 per cent compared to 191,658 tonnes recorded during the same month in 2011. The year to date freight volumes reached 2,077,676 tonnes compared to 2,004,671 tonnes handled during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 3.6 per cent.

 

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said, “We are very glad with the traffic growth this year and are all set to surpass our target of 56.5 million passengers by a margin, taking us closer to operating Dubai International at full capacity. It is no coincidence that Concourse A, the A380 facility that underwent operational readiness trial recently, will open in early 2013 providing much needed capacity.”

 

Concourse A is part of the Terminal 3 complex which will increase Dubai International’s annual passenger capacity from 60 million to 75 million when it opens next year.