Abu Dhabi: Over 2.3 million passengers passed through Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) in August 2016, marking a 2.3 per cent increase over the same month in 2015, according to a statement from the airport’s operator.
The figure brings the total number of passengers using the airport since the beginning of this year until August 31 to 16.4 million — up 6.2 per cent year-on-year.
Looking at destinations, passenger traffic to India grew 14.3 per cent year-on-year in August, as the country maintained its position as top destination, with 378,675 passengers flying there during the month.
Meanwhile, passengers to the UK totalled 153,208, representing a 4.2 per cent increase over August 2015. Saudi Arabia rose to become the fourth busiest destination, with traffic to and from the kingdom up 12.3 per cent, largely due to the high volume of pilgrims travelling for Haj.
Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator of Abu Dhabi International, said passenger traffic to and from Egypt rose 26.6 per cent in August on the back of Etihad Airways’ introduction of thrice-daily flights and EgyptAir’s increased service of 13 flights per week.
However, total aircraft movements were down, dropping 2.4 per cent in August to 14,910, and falling 1.1 per cent in the first eight months of the year to 114,057. Cargo traffic was also lower, falling three per cent in August compared to the same month in 2015 to 68,728 metric tonnes. Cargo traffic for the first eight months was 5.4 per cent lower year-on-year to 524,274 metric tonnes.
