Ailing Russian economy slows down November passenger traffic growth at Dubai Airport

Dubai: Growth of passenger traffic through Dubai International Airport slowed down in November as a result of geopolitical and economic issues hurting Russia, according to a statement on Tuesday from Dubai Airports, which owns and manages operations of the facility.

These issues resulted in an 18.2 per cent drop in Russian and CIS passenger traffic during November compared with the same period in 2013, the airport operator said.

Dubai is a popular holiday destination for Russian visitors. But a weakening rouble amid falling oil prices and western economic sanctions imposed on Russia has deterred some Russians from travelling to Dubai and elsewhere.

Passenger traffic was up 4.3 per cent in November from a year earlier to 5.56 million people in November, compared with a 5.7 per cent growth in October. In the first 11 months of the year, passenger traffic at Dubai’s main airport rose 5.9 per cent to 63.97 million people.

According to Russia’s economy ministry, gross domestic product dropped 0.5 per cent last month for the first time in five years.

“Given the traffic achieved in the first 11 months, together with some of the busiest days on record in December, we are confident of ending the year above the 70 million mark and confirming our position as the world’s busiest international airport,” Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, said in a statement, adding that he expects the growth achieved this year to be maintained in 2015.

Aircraft movement grew 10 per cent in November to 34,690. Movement in the first 11 months of the year dropped 3.5 per cent to 325,469 due to the reduction of flights during the 80-day runway repair work earlier this year, the operator said.

In terms of growth in overall passenger numbers, Eastern Europe was the top region with a 54.1 per cent rise in passenger traffic year-on-year in November, spurred by strong growth from Budapest, Prague and Warsaw. This is followed by South America and Asia.

India was the busiest country destination last month, supported by double-digit growth in passenger numbers to New Delhi and Mumbai.

Freight volume, meanwhile, dropped 8 per cent in November to 205,375 tonnes as a result of freighter operations moving to Al Maktoum International (DWC), Dubai’s second airport. Volume in the first 11 months of the year reached 2.16 million tonnes, down 2.7 per cent.