Dubai Airports said its passenger traffic rose 13.6 per cent last month compared with May last year. The airport, which is ranked in the top five for international passenger and cargo traffic, handled 3.65 million passengers last month, up from 3.21 million. It was the 11th consecutive month of double-digit growth. @Body-Infobox2:So far this year, 18.9 million passengers have passed through the airport, an increase of 17.7 per cent from the same period last year.
"The outlook remains strong as we expect traffic during June and September to hit record levels owing to the onset of the summer travel season," said Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports. "An average of 100,000 passengers per day travelled through Dubai international during the summer rush in 2009 and the number is likely to be much higher this year." @Body-Infobox2:Cargo volumes rose 31.7 per cent last month to 195,221 tonnes due to growth from Asia and regional markets. Freight volumes so far this year are up 27 per cent to 917,280 tonnes.
@Body-Infobox2:Dubai's cargo operations will be boosted by the opening of the emirate's second airport on Sunday in Jebel Ali. Al Maktoum International Airport, at Dubai World Central, will open first for cargo flights and then add passenger services next March. @Email:igale@thenational.ae
