UAE. Passenger traffic at Dubai International passed 43 million in the first half of 2017, a rise of +6.3% compared to the same period in 2016, Dubai Airports has reported. Monthly traffic in June reached 6,084,674, an increase of +3.9%, with the relatively modest growth rate attributed to the holy month of Ramadan falling in June.
During the first six months, the top country destinations in terms of total passenger volumes were India (5,943,359), Saudi Arabia (3,108,492), the UK (3,064,172), Pakistan (2,207,497) and the USA (1,561,559).
In terms of percentage growth, the leading regions during the first half were South America (+36.4%), Eastern Europe (+28.7%) and Asia (+18.7%). Top cities by passenger volumes included London (1,893,038 passengers), Mumbai (1,205,504), Bangkok (1,037,606) and New Delhi (1,016,183).
The average number of passengers per flight during the first half was 218, up +6.9% compared to 204 during the same period in 2016.
“We are pleased with the growth in the first half, and with the rush of travellers expected to hit peak at the end of school holidays later next month, we are looking forward to another quarter of positive growth. We will continue to focus on improving service quality at DXB by bringing in new experiences and services to engage and delight our customers,” said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths.