(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Â Dubai International, the world's second-busiest international airport, registered a record 5.8 million passengers in March due to higher traffic on Western European and Gulf routes.
The strong 20.6 per cent growth in passenger traffic has boosted the year-to-date numbers to 16.486 million, up 15.6 per cent compared to 14.261 million recorded in the first three months of 2012. This is the fourth consecutive month with more than five million passengers and a double-digit growth at Dubai International.
"We have had a very successful first quarter highlighted by record growth and the opening of the world's first purpose-built A380 facility. We are now not only the world's second-busiest international hub, but also one of the most efficient," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
He added that traffic looked set to continue its upsurge in the second quarter adding to the import of Dubai Airports' ongoing expansion projects at Dubai International. The largest increase in passenger numbers was recorded on Western European routes serviced by Emirates and flydubai. It is followed by the AGCC and the Indian Sub-continent, Dubai Airports said, adding that growth was relatively slow on South American and Middle Eastern routes. In terms of percentage growth, Eastern Europe was the fastest-expanding market driven by Emirates' launch of new services to Poland and flydubai's service to Macedonia, followed by the Asia-Pacific.
"Dubai Airports growth continues to surpass the record-breaking year in 2012 and March traffic figures suggest another big year," Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research, told Khaleej Times. "It also proves that Dubai has established itself as a true global crossroad - and the airport figures are proof of that," Ahmad said. Dubai International recorded a total of 31,713 aircraft movements in March, up 8.3 per cent from 29,276 in March 2012. Year-to-date movements increased 5.9 per cent to 91,130, compared to 86,014 in the same quarter in 2012.
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