Dubai International starts off the new year on a high

This follows Dubai International’s performance in 2014 during which the airport welcomed 70.4 million passengers to claim the title of the world’s number one airport for international passenger traffic. “Considering that Dubai International is projected to welcome over 79 million passengers in 2015, there is no better way to begin a year than with a record month,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

Regionally, Eastern Europe remained the fastest-expanding market in terms of percentage growth* (+71.9 per cent), followed by North America (+16.9 per cent), the Indian subcontinent (+12.2 per cent) and Asia (10.5 per cent). Russia & CIS recorded fewer visitors with traffic dropping -22.7 per cent due to the political and economic instability in the region, while traffic on Australasian routes also registered a marginal dip of -1.6 per cent. Routes to the Indian subcontinent (+171,552 passengers), AGCC (+115,317 passengers), and Western Europe (+105,409) topped in terms of growth in passenger numbers.

Most markets were boosted in January by holiday traffic as well as visitors to the annual Dubai Shopping Festival.

Aircraft movements totalled 34,643 in January 2015, up 6.2 per cent compared to the 32,625 movements recorded in January 2014.

Freight volumes at Dubai International continued the downward trend in January, contracting 5.5 per cent to 186,230 tonnes, from 197,021 recorded in January 2014. The contraction is the result of a total of shift of cargo operations to Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central since May 2014.

“The opening of Concourse D later this year will increase our annual capacity to 90 million passengers and make sure we can continue to accommodate the increasing number of travellers who choose to fly through DXB. It is also a strong endorsement for our $7.8bn SP2020 expansion plan which will allow us to remain one step ahead of our expected growth by increasing our capacity both on the ground as well as in the air.” Griffiths said.

Analyst Saj Ahmad said: “Dubai Airport has start 2015 in a strong way - it's a showcase of its demand allure that continues to draw in passengers as it looks to consolidate its position as the world's top international airport.

“The 7.7% rise in traffic stems not just from the added growth of heavyweight incumbents like flydubai and Emirates - both of whom are expanding at a frenetic rate, the other big boon for Dubai International Airport is the greater efficiency now driven in because of the updated two runways that allow better handling of flights both arriving and departing so that capacity and movements can increased within the existing airport footprint.

“The slight dip in freight movements is no big surprise given that Al Maktoum International Airport is starting to carve out a big slice of the cargo market. As the spring and summer months roll around, Dubai International will see both passenger and freight activity rising as the airport looks to build on its 2014 successes.”