Dubai International posts 8% passenger growth in 2011

Dubai International (DXB) reported passenger traffic of 51 million in 2011, up 8%, compared to 47.2 million in 2010, posting another record year for the airport.

Aircraft movements totaled 326,317, up 6.2% over 2010. Average passenger numbers remained flat at 184.

In 2011, DXB added 28 destinations and discontinued 17, boosting overall passenger destinations to 215, compared to 204 in 2010. Its strongest markets include India, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Germany and the US.

According to DXB, routes to Eastern Europe experienced the highest growth, up 81%. Routes to Russia and the CIS jumped 30.5% and routes to North America climbed 16.1%.

Freight, which reflected the faltering world economy, was down 1.5% to 2.19 million tonnes.

The airport is investing $7.8 billion to boost capacity to 90 million passengers per year by 2018. DXB expects to complete construction of Concourse 3, the world’s largest dedicated Airbus A380 facility, by year end (ATW Daily News, July 7, 2011).