Abu Dhabi Airport Welcomes Over 1.3m Passengers In Nov

Abu Dhabi International Airport registered a 9.8 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic in the month of November 2013, to reach over 1.33 million passengers.

Aircraft movements increased by 10.7 per cent at 11,856, a statement said.

The top five destinations in November 2013 were India, Germany, the UK, Thailand and Pakistan.

Cargo traffic figures also rose, with over 66,516 tonnes of freight handled throughout the month, a 33.3 per cent increase compared to the same month last year.

The capital’s airport also recorded stellar numbers in October, driven by the Hajj and Eid season along with the start of the Formula One season at the end of the month.

Passenger traffic surged 15.8 per cent year-on-year, while aircraft movement reached 11,891, up 10.2 per cent.

Cargo traffic also grew 17.9 per cent in October with more than 62,223 tonnes of cargo moved.

Ahmad Al Haddabi, COO of Abu Dhabi Airports, stated, “With the increase of 12.2 per cent in passengers passing through the airport in the last 11 months compared with the same period in 2012, reaching 15 million passengers to date for 2013, such growth reinforces the airport’s position as a growing international aviation hub, and Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to make strategic investments that allow for optimum capacity management and route development.”

Abu Dhabi Airports is currently developing a new Dhs10.8 billion ($2.9 billion) midfield terminal at Abu Dhabi’s international airport, which is expected to be operational in July 2017.

The 700,000 square metre terminal is built to double the capacity of the airport from 15 million to 30 million passengers annually.

A Capacity Enhancement Programme currently in progress will also enable Abu Dhabi International Airport to accommodate more than 17 million passengers annually through enhancements to existing facilities, the most recent of these being the new Arrivals Hall, which opened earlier this year.