UAE continues to see air traffic increase

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that air traffic movements in the UAE witnessed a minor decline of 0.6 percent in July compared with the same period of last year due to the 80-day closure of two runways in Dubai International Airport.

But the GCAA monthly report indicated a total of 459,389 air traffic movements since the beginning of the year which represents an overall increase of 2.3 percent compared to the same period of the last year. 

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, GCAA director general, said despite the decline in traffic over the past 3 months due to runway renovations in Dubai Airport there has been an overall increase in air traffic movements this year.

“This is a clear indication of the increasing demand for aviation services and increased number of passengers from and to UAE. We expect this growth to surge higher over the coming months,” Al Suwaidi said.

The July report showed that Dubai ranked first with 24,654 air traffic movements. Over flights stood second at 11,747 air traffic movements. Abu Dhabi ranked third with 11,818 air traffic movements. According to the report, air traffic movements in Sharjah International Airport came next with 6,253 movements. Al Maktoum International Airport witnessed 3,108 movements. 

Local flights between UAE airports totaled 4,817 movements. Fujairah International Airport witnessed 113 movements, while Ras Al Khaimah International Airport had 214 air traffic movements and Al Ain Airport had 78 air traffic movements.