Passenger traffic at Dubai World Central surged 79.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, as airlines added more flights and frequencies.
Dubai World Central is the city’s second airport, and more than 257,000 passengers passed through it during the first three months of the year, versus more than 143,000 a year earlier.
“The sharp increase in passenger traffic was spurred by demand on routes served by major carriers including flydubai and Qatar Airways, among others, and increased frequencies in 2016,” Dubai Airports said yesterday.
Dubai World Central serves 16 airlines that operate 190 flights weekly to 25 international destinations.
Paul Griffiths, the chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, said that he expects the growth trend of Dubai World Central to continue.
“The growth projection is based on two key factors,” said Mr Griffiths. “First is the planned move of flydubai’s entire operation to Dubai World Central by end of 2017. Second is the sheer convenience of using the facility.”
The airport is capable of handling more than 5 million passengers a year, and its capacity will gradually be expanded to 220 million a year by the middle of the next decade.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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