Adia passenger traffic up 13.8%, cargo volume increases 22.2%

Abu Dhabi: Passenger and cargo traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport (Adia) achieved double-digit growth in the first quarter, according to an official report released yesterday, signalling continued growth in business and leisure activity in the emirate.

Abu Dhabi Airports Co. (Adac), the government firm in charge of airport development, reported that passenger traffic had grown by 13.8 per cent and the volume of cargo had grown by 22.2 per cent. Last year, Abu Dhabi's airport saw its passenger and cargo volumes grow by 7 per cent. The airport served 9.7 million passengers, according to Adac data.

Aircraft movement up

"The first quarter passenger and cargo data reflects the continued strength and growth being experienced at Abu Dhabi International Airport," Ahmad Al Haddabi, senior vice-president of airports operations at Adac said in a statement. "Air traffic in general is rebounding strongly, against first-quarter 2009 figures."

Adac is preparing to open a state-of-the-art $36.7 million (Dh135 million) air traffic control tower later this year, part of a $6.8 billion development plan for the Abu Dhabi airport. The tower will help support increasing aircraft movements, which registered a 14 per cent rise in the first three months.

According to Adac's release, Bangkok, London, Doha, Manila and Bahrain were the five top destinations in that order for traffic out of Adia. The cities accounted for nearly 21 per cent of traffic.

Last month, Dubai International Airport (Dia) reported a 23-per-cent increase in passenger traffic in February after registering a 17 per cent increase the previous month.

Dubai growth

Despite the economic downturn, Dia served more than 34 million passengers in 2009, recording its sixth consecutive year of 15 per cent-plus growth in traffic.

Middle Eastern airlines saw their passenger volumes grow by 26 per cent in February, beating by far other global regions, according to International Air Transport Association (Iata) data released at the end of March. The figure is well above the 9.5 per cent average global increase and the 14 per cent recorded by the next best-performing region, namely the Asia-Pacific.

Traffic toppers

The top five city destinations with respect to Adia (accounting for 21% of total traffic in Q1 2010)

1- Bangkok 2- London 3- Doha 4- Manila5-Bahrain

Airports Company (ADAC) is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Amiri Decree number 5, issued on 4 March 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate's aviation infrastructure. In September 2006, ADAC assumed responsibility for the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports. In 2008, ADAC added Al Bateen Executive Airport (an exclusive private aviation airport), and Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island Airports to its portfolio. These airports are geared to serve the various segments of air travellers, the aviation marketplace, and will help contribute to Abu Dhabi's development as a destination for both business and leisure tourism. Currently under way is the multi-billion dollar re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to more than 20 million passengers per year. As part of this redevelopment, a second runway and a third terminal have been completed. A new Air Traffic Control Tower is due to be operational in 2010 with the Midfield Terminal Complex development expected to open in 2015.