Dubai: Dubai International Airport's passenger numbers rose 17 per cent and cargo volumes climbed 31.5 per cent in January compared to a year ago, the company said yesterday.

The airport handled 3.86 million passengers in January against 3.3 million a year earlier. Last month also, the record for passenger numbers — 3.81 million in December 2009 — was surpassed.

Freight volume staged double-digit growth for the fourth month to 171,453 tonnes, up significantly from 130,375 tonnes in the same period a year earlier.

"Freight growth is likely to continue throughout the rest of the year as additional capacity comes on line and global cargo movement picks up," said Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports. A portion of that traffic growth will be accommodated at Dubai World Central — Al Maktoum International when it opens in June for cargo operations, he said.

Regional carriers gain

The International Air Transport Association said last month that regional carriers generated the fastest growth in passenger traffic with a 19.1 per cent increase in December.

"These gains result from Middle Eastern carriers taking a larger share of long-haul connecting traffic over their hubs," it said.

The airports company said the steep increase in freight volumes in January is the result of a surge in economic activity as well as the continued expansion of Emirates Skycargo, with both factors contributing to a 39.9 per cent rise in trans-shipments, a 33.6 per cent increase in exports and a 29.3 per cent uplift in imports.

"Dubai is on the leading edge of a rebound in global air traffic," said Griffiths. "Dubai International has been registering robust growth since the second quarter of 2009 when the industry's key hubs were still recording negative growth."

Dubai International has also climbed two positions in as many months to become the world's fourth busiest airport for international passengers. Dubai International is the fifth busiest hub for international cargo.