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Abu Dhabi airport passenger growth up 33%

Passenger numbers at Abu Dhabi International Airport in February jumped 33% in 2008, defying a global slowdown in passenger traffic.

Airport owner Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) said in a statement on Tuesday it handled 648,301 passengers in February 2008, compared to 488,453 for the same period last year.
Aircraft activity increased by 16.9% for the same period and cargo movements at the airport increased 20% to 27,341 tons, according to ADAC’s figures.

Rudy Vercelli, CEO at ADAC, said the rapid growth of the UAE's national airline Etihad Airways was a key factor in the increase of traffic.

"It has also been noted that traffic coming to Abu Dhabi for business conferences and exhibitions is increasing rapidly and is having a clear effect on the profile of passengers through our airports,” Vercelli said.

The predicted downturn in international passenger traffic in 2008 is not expected to occur across the Middle East region, he added.

"Judging by our latest statistics, growth in the early part of the year seems to demonstrate a general bucking of international trends and looks set to remain strong in 2008."

New facilities are due to begin at Abu Dhabi International Airport this year, including the five-million passenger capacity Terminal 3, which will nearly double the current capacity to take on 12 million passengers.

With eight gates, including two that are A380 compatible, the new terminal will be used by Etihad, while the international airlines will continue using the existing Terminal 1 and 2 buildings, until the 40 million people capacity Midfield Terminal complex comes on line in 2011.

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