Abu Dhabi International Airport posted double-digit growth in passenger and cargo traffic last month, in what officials said was a sign of the emirate's return to pre-crisis rates of rapid expansion.
Passenger traffic grew 11.2 per cent at the airport last month compared with January 2008, while cargo activity rose 25.6 per cent, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) announced yesterday.
"Having withstood the global challenges of the world economy and the aviation industry in 2009, by demonstrating 7.3 per cent growth the results of the first month of 2010 show that demand for air travel to and from Abu Dhabi is returning to double-digit growth figures," said Ahmad al Haddabi, the senior vice president of airports operations at ADAC.
The growth was driven by conferences and exhibitions, such as the recent World Future Energy Summit, as well as Etihad Airways's expanding network and flight frequencies, ADAC officials said. The increase in cargo came from the large volume of aid sent to Haiti.
London remained the airport's busiest destination for the latest month, as it was last year, followed by Bangkok and Doha. Manila and Bahrain came in fourth and fifth, respectively.
One of the world's fastest-growing airports, Abu Dhabi International is undergoing a multibillion-dirham redevelopment and expansion designed to increase its capacity to more than 20 million passengers a year. As part of this redevelopment, a second runway and third terminal have been completed.
ADAC's announcement comes a day after Dubai's airports operator said Dubai International Airport had posted a 17 per cent rise in passenger traffic last month, compared with January 2008, and its cargo activity had increased by 31.5 per cent.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports bucked global trends last year by recording passenger growth in an industry hit by the H1N1 swine flu virus and the global economic downturn.
@Email:khagey@thenational.ae
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
