Dubai passenger numbers up 10% y-o-y in May

Dubai, July 3, 2012 (WAM) - Passenger numbers at Dubai International Airport increased 10.4% year on year in May, its operator, Dubai Airports, said on Monday. Passenger traffic at the world's fourth busiest hub, reached 4,388,614 in May compared to 3,976,633 passengers in the same month in 2011, Dubai Airports' latest figures showed. In the first five months of the year, traffic reached 23.2 million, an increase of 13.2% over the 20.5 million using the airport during the corresponding period in 2011. The GCC region recorded the largest increase in total passenger numbers in May (up 105,052 passengers), followed by Africa (up 61,306), Western Europe (up 57,602) and the Indian subcontinent (up 55,330). The GCC recorded the largest increase in total passenger numbers in May (+105,052 passengers), followed by Africa (+61,306), Western Europe (+57,602) and the Indian subcontinent (+55,330). In terms of percentage growth, traffic on South American routes surged 114.2 per cent*, albeit from a low base. Russia and CIS benefited from flydubai's ongoing expansion into that region with traffic increasing 43.7 per cent. Middle East passenger traffic continues to be affected by the instability in the region with a contraction of 2.5 per cent in May. Aircraft movements for the month totalled 28,304, an increase of 5 per cent compared to the 26,969 movements recorded during the same period last year. The number of year to date aircraft movements reached 142,821 compared with 133,271 recorded during the corresponding period in 2011, an increase of 7.2%. The report showed that Dubai International handled 187,638 tonnes of air freight in May, a contraction of 0.1 per cent compared to 187,905 tonnes recorded during the same period in 2011. The year to date freight volume has reached 891,464 tonnes, up 1.4 per cent over 879,359 tonnes for the corresponding period last year. – Emirates News Agency, WAM