Passenger traffic in DXB hits record in January

dubai — Passenger traffic at Dubai International hit an alltime high of eight million in January, further reinforcing the airport’s clout as the world’s busiest for international passengers.

Passenger traffic rose 9.7 per cent to 8.04 million in January 2017, up from 7.33 million in the same month in 2016. This follows Dubai International’s (DXB) performance in 2016 during which the airport welcomed a record 83.6 million passengers.

“It’s an auspicious start to what is sure to be another record-breaking year for DXB,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

“It provides further impetus to our DXB Plus Programme, which will enhance service and boost capacity at DXB by applying technology to improve processes. It also fuels our ongoing efforts to improve the customer experience with wi-fi, retail, F&B and offers ranging from spas to VIP service to live music,” said Griffiths.

Saj Ahmad, an analyst at London’s Strategic-Aero Research, said Dubai International’s robust start to the year picks up from where it left off from its recordbreaking 2016 performance.

“With a near 10 per cent rise in traffic to over eight million passengers in January alone, the airport is reaping the benefits of a resurgent travel market out of Eastern Europe as well as the Indian subcontinent,” he said.

“Players like flydubai, who have been a huge regional success in Europe, has been the key driver behind this traffic growth, while major incumbent Emirates continues its organic expansion with new routes and frequencies to expand its connectivity appeal to and through Dubai,” Ahmad told Khaleej Times.

Eastern Europe remained the fastest-expanding market in terms of percentage growth (up 32.5 per cent), followed by Asia (up 26.4 per cent), South America (up 18.6 per cent) and Australasia (up 15.8 per cent). In terms of passenger numbers, routes to the Indian subcontinent (1,876,448 passengers) topped the list followed by Western Europe (1,701,494 passengers) and the GCC states (1,363,089).

— issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com