Dubai Int'l passenger traffic slips 2.9pc in July

Dubai (WAM): Passenger traffic at Dubai International dropped 2.9 percent to 5.15 million people in July from 5.31 million passengers in July last year, because of construction work on its two runways, operator Dubai Airports said on Sunday noting that traffic remained above the 5-million mark for the 19th straight month in July while maintaining its growth trend for the year so far. Dubai International reduced flights by about 26 percent for a period of 80 days from May 1 as both its runways were consecutively refurbished and upgraded. The airport's two runways resumed normal service on 21 July. "For the month of July, passenger numbers slipped 2.9 per cent to 5,155,771, from 5,310,361 passengers in July last year. Traffic was impacted by Dubai International being reduced to single runway for a period of 80 days from 1 May as the airport’s two runways were consecutively refurbished and upgraded. Both runways were reopened on 21 July," said Dubai Airports. Passenger numbers rose to within a whisker of 40-million in the first seven months of the year, climbing 4.9 per cent to 39,831,861, up from 37,972,464 passengers recorded in the same period last year. Cargo volumes, monthly and year-to-date, at Dubai International registered a downturn. In July, cargo volumes reached 184,720 tonnes, down 10.7 per cent from the 206,945 tonnes achieved in the same month in 2013. Year to date cargo volumes reached 1,367,967 tonnes, down 3.1 per cent from 1,411,896 tonnes recorded in the first seven months of 2013. "July was a story of two distinct halves. As anticipated, traffic continued to be impacted by the runway refurbishment programme in the first part of the month. But, crucially, July also marked the successful reopening of both Dubai International’s runways, just in time to accommodate the holiday rush in the last week of the month when we experienced some of the busiest days on record. We are back to business as usual at Dubai International," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. "Looking forward, with two newly upgraded runways which are able to accommodate even more aircraft, the airport is well placed to resume the growth we saw in the first four months of the year," Mr. Griffith added. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/economics-emirates/1395269091999.html