Abu Dhabi Airport posts 12.2% passenger growth

The passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport grew 12.2 per cent year-on-year in 2010, with nearly 11 million passengers passing through the airport.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) on Sunday said “the positive passenger development during the year 2010 is also reflected in the aircraft movement numbers that reached 112,000 aircraft, a jump of 10 per cent year on year.”

Levels of air cargo demonstrated a dynamic growth of 16 per cent in the year, registering 438,000 tonnes of cargo handled at Abu Dhabi International Airport, it said.

The double-digit increase of passenger, aircraft and cargo figures are a strong indicator of the healthy growth that the Abu Dhabi economy is 
enjoying.

The ADAC has invested heavily in attracting new airlines and encouraging existing airlines to expand their services to Abu Dhabi through new routes and increased frequencies.

The report indicated that during the year, Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed five new international airlines, added six new destinations and serviced an average of 41 additional frequencies from its existing airlines — a 13 per cent increase in the total weekly outbound flights compared with the previous year.

James E. Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of ADAC, said: “2010 witnessed strong traffic development at Abu Dhabi International Airport, well above the world airports average growth.”

“Our strategy, combined with Abu Dhabi’s increasing awareness as an attractive business and tourist destination, led us again to a very positive end of year outcome,” Bennett said.

London, Bangkok, Doha, Manila and Cairo continue to be the top five routes, collectively claiming 20 per cent of the total passenger traffic during 2010. Southern Africa has demonstrated the highest growth as a region served from Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2010 with a 42 per cent increase in traffic, followed by North Africa and the Far East with an increase of 24 per cent and 14 per cent, 
respectively.