Dubai Targets 66m Passengers In 2013

Dubai International’s passenger traffic is set to surpass the projected target of 56.5 million in 2012, thanks to 10 per cent growth in November, and it is forecasting 66 million passengers in 2013.

It means the world’s fourth busiest hub for international passengers has racked up double-digit growth in passenger numbers in all but two months this year.

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) although contraction in traffic on Middle Eastern routes continued.

The strongest markets in terms of percentage passenger growth were South America (+98.9 per cent) – the large increases down to Emirates’ new Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro services – Russia and CIS (+22.6 per cent), Australasia (21 per cent ) and North America (+20 per cent).

Cargo figures were slightly less stellar with 200,060 tonnes handled in November, a 4.4 per cent year-on-year increase.

Concourse A, dedicated to Emirates’ A380s, is due to open in January and will increase Dubai International’s annual passenger capacity from 60 million to 75 million.