Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Sunday said passenger traffic grew 10.1 per cent to 866,475 in April despite the spread of volcanic ash.
"In spite of cancellations of flights due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland which grounded many flights to and from Europe during the month, the airport recorded a passenger traffic increase of 10.1 per cent to 866,475 in the month of April," a statement said.
April also saw aircraft movements increase by 11.1 per cent over the same month in 2009.
Cargo movement through the airport also increased substantially in April, with tonnage handled up 21.3 per cent over the same month in 2009.
London, Doha, Bangkok, Manila and Jeddah were the top five destinations; but the US was the fastest-growing country destination for the month, with a 160 per cent increase in passenger traffic over the same period in 2009.
This growth can largely be attributed to the launch of Etihad's Chicago route and its connectivity to the American market through its code share agreement with American Airlines.
Ahmad Al Haddabi, ADAC's Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, said: "In spite of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the volcanic ash cloud that spread from Iceland across Europe during several days in April and thereby grounding numerous flights to and from the continent, Abu Dhabi International Airport continued to record double-digit growth, which is a great result. The increases illustrate the strong fundamentals of our economy and the strength of our tourism offering in Abu Dhabi."
