Air transport sector scales new heights

The air transport industry registered an increase in the total number of flights from 107,399 in 1996 to 141,281 in 2000, an average annual growth rate of 5.6 per cent, according to the latest Dubai Municipality Statistical Yearbook for 2000.

The increase has transformed Dubai into an oasis that provides an ideal venue for carriers.

While scheduled flights recorded a constant increase between 1996 and 2000, non-scheduled flights showed a fluctuating trend. Scheduled flights increased from 81,593 in 1996 to 94,544 in 1998 and 115,265 in 2000, an average annual growth rate of 7.2 per cent.

Non-scheduled flights, however, dropped by four per cent from 20,892 flights in 1996 to 20,075 in 1997, then increased in 1998 to 24,023 flights. A further drop to 21,349 and 21,076 flights was recorded in 1999 and 2000.

Military flights showed a marginal increase, from 4,914 in 1996 to 4,940 trips in 2000, registering a marginal rise and fall over the years - a drop of seven per cent in 1997, with the number of trips standing at 4,574; an increase of 4.6 per cent and 2.1 per cent in 1998 and 1999, with 4,785 and 4,884 trips.

Passenger movement at Dubai International Airport: In general, arrivals outnumbered departures, increasing at an average annual growth rate of 10.3 per cent. Departures gained an average annual growth of 9.7 per cent.

In 2000, the number of arrivals stood at 5,600,146 while departures were 5,516,621. Those who passed in transit stood at 1.2 million, taking the total number to 12.32 million passing through the airport.

This reveals a carefully planned strategy that has been put in place and reflects a vision to attract millions of visitors annually to the emirate.

The data also indicates a steady increase in both arrivals and departures over the years. Number of arrivals rose from 3.43 million in 1996 to 4.1 million in 1997, 4.41 million in 1998, 4.88 million in 1999 and 5.6 million in 2000.

Departures increased from 3.47 million in 1996 to 3.87 million in 1997. In 1998 there were 4.28 million departures, while in the next two years they were 4.83 million and 5.51 million.

The number of transit passengers increased from 1.09 million passengers in 1996 to 1.12 million in 1997. However it fell by 8.9 per cent in 1998 to 1.02 million and rose to 1.03 million and 1.2 million in 1999 and 2000.

Total number of passengers increased at an average annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent from 8.01 million in 1996 to 9.1 million in 1997 and to 9.7 million in 1998, 10.7 million in 1999 and 12.3 million in 2000.

Monthly movement of passengers at Dubai International Airport shows that transit passenger numbers tend to be constant, with the lowest number recorded in June 2000, of 85,037, and the highest in December, at 113,128.

Yet, both monthly arrivals and departures for the same year show steep shifts. That is, both the arrival and departure numbers become consistent with trend lines almost coinciding during the period from January to May and deviating from June to October, revealing that arrivals outnumbered departures.

The numbers match once again during November and December, as illustrated in the related chart, indicating a small difference between arrivals and departures.

Departures fluctuate upwards from 413,429 to 505,904 in March to show traffic for the Dubai Shopping Festival among others, and downwards in May to 434,063 to rise again to 538,907 in July indicating the tendency of Dubai residents to leave on vacation during that month.

Arrivals swing sharply, registering a rise from 431,426 to 504,924 passengers in March to reveal the increase of visitors to the Dubai Shopping Festival among others coming to the country, and move sharply downwards in June with the least numbers being 408,552, because of the summer season.

The number of arrivals then rises vertically to 567,472, indicating the trend of Dubai inhabitants to return from annual vacation.

In general, the total passengers traffic is less during January, February, May, June and December with the least traffic being 943,016 passengers in February and the highest being 1.16 million in August.

Cargo movement at Dubai Airport: The general view of cargo flow at Dubai International Airport gives a real indication of Dubai's position as a regional hub.

Hence, throughput at the Dubai Cargo Terminal for 2000 amounted to 562,591 tonnes showing an increase of 56.7 per cent compared with 1996's 358,909 tonnes.

The quantity of goods discharged at the airport increased constantly from 1996 to 2000 - from 188,600 tonnes in 1996 to 226,535 tonnes in 1997; 241,521 tonnes in 1998; 263,314 tonnes in 1999; and 309,644 tonnes in 2000.

Similarly, amount of goods loaded increased from 170,309 tonnes in 1996 to 187,934 tonnes in 1997, 190,256 tonnes in 1998, 211,465 tonnes in 1999 and 252,947 tonnes in 2000.

Discharged goods increased at an average annual growth rate of 10.4 per cent, quantity of loaded goods increasing at an average annual growth rate of 8.23 per cent, revealing the commercial viability of Dubai as a trade and re-export centre.