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Dubai airport sets record with 60 million annual passengers Abdul Basit / 30 January 2014 World’s second busiest international hub crosses 60m passengers mark for the first time. Last year was a record and historic year for Dubai International airport as the world’s second busiest international hub crossed 60 million mark for the first time following a record-breaking December with six million passengers, again first time. Annual passenger traffic of 66.4 million, up 15.2 per cent compared to 57.68 million recorded during 2012, represents the airport’s highest total ever thanks to network expansion and monthly passenger numbers which exceeded five million for 12 consecutive months, its operator Dubai Airports revealed in a statement on Wednesday. Dubai International has become renowned for breaking records and the 15 per cent rise in traffic in 2013 to over 66 million passengers comes as little surprise, according to a senior aviation analyst. “Despite regional difficulties, Dubai Airport is still pulling in business faster than any other airport in the world. This stunning growth led by stalwart Emirates and the worlds fastest growing low fares airline flydubai have been instrumental in capturing that growth,” Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research, told Khaleej Times. Passenger numbers in December reached six million, an increase of 13.6 per cent compared to 5.32 million recorded during the same month in 2012. Dubai International continues to benefit from the efficiencies offered by the large number of wide-body jets that operate into it with the average number of passengers per aircraft movement rising to 198 in 2013, up 4.5 per cent from the 189 recorded in 2012. Aircraft movements in 2013 reached 369,953, up 7.5 per cent compared to 344,245 movements recorded during 2012. Aircraft movements in December totalled 32,832, compared to 30,945 movements during the same month in 2012, an increase of 6.1 per cent. During the year a total of 28 new passenger destinations were added thanks largely to the expanding networks of Dubai-based airlines flydubai and Emirates bringing the total passenger destinations served by Dubai International to 239. “It was truly a historic year for Dubai’s aviation sector highlighted by the successful opening of Concourse A, the world’s largest and only facility purpose built for the Airbus A380; and the launch of passenger services at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central. 2014 is set to be another eventful year, featuring continued traffic growth, network expansion and the ongoing enlargement and upgrade of our facilities and runways,” Dubai Airports chief executive officer Paul Griffiths said. Cargo volumes also reached record levels in 2013 with 2.4 million tonnes of air freight passing through Dubai International during 2013, up 6.8 per cent compared to 2.28 million tonnes recorded during 2012. — abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading →
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