Passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport last year rose by 31 per cent over 2006 figures to reach 6.926 million.
The airport also saw a 15 per cent increase in aircraft movements compared with 2006 to make it one of the region’s fastest growing airports. There were 86,767 registered movements, compared with 75,437 in 2006, it was reported in Gulf News.
Confirming continuous growth throughout 2007, the December passenger traffic results showed a 40.4 per cent increase and a 19.9 per cent rise in aircraft movements over December 2006.
“The strong growth in traffic seen in 2007 is a direct result of Abu Dhabi’s growing prominence as an attractive tourist and business destination,” said Khalifa Al Mazrouei, chairman and managing director of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), the owner and operator of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports.
In just one month – last December - the airport handled 730,404 passengers, a 40.4 per cent rise over the 520,133 passengers handled in December 2006.
Aircraft movements increased 19.9 per cent in the same period, rising from 6,517 in December 2006 to 7,811 in December 2007.
Contributing to the airport’s strong growth has been the rapidly expanding airline Etihad Airways based there.