UAE air traffic up 8.7 per cent in August: GCAA

Dubai: Air traffic movements in the UAE grew at 8.7 per cent in August compared to the same month last year, according to figures released by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Monday. The monthly report indicated that total air traffic movements in August 2010 were 53,525, at an average of 1,727 per day.

Dubai ranked first with 24,127 air traffic movements. Overflights stood next at 11,776. Abu Dhabi ranked third with 8,003 movements. Air traffic movements at Sharjah ranked fourth at 5,540. Local flights between UAE airports were in the fifth position with 3,408 movements.

Fujairah witnessed 352 while Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport had 206 and 93 air traffic movements, respectively. Al Maktoum International Airport witnessed 20 shipping movements.

Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General, GCAA, said: “Daily air traffic movements in the UAE remained high in spite of the fact that the holiday season this year coincided with the holy month of Ramadan.”