Abu Dhabi Airports reports strong growth in passenger traffic

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Abu Dhabi Airports (AD Airports) has reported impressive growth for the first half of 2024, showing significant increases in passenger traffic, flight movements and cargo volumes.

From January to June 2024, AD Airports saw nearly 14 million passengers travel through its terminals, marking a 33.5 per cent rise from the same period last year.

Zayed International Airport (AUH) alone handled over 13.7 million passengers, a 33.8 per cent increase compared to the first half of 2023.

This growth was supported by a 24.3 per cent increase in flight movements, with 84,286 flights recorded in the first half of 2024, up from 67,835 the previous year.

In addition to the strong performance in the first quarter, AD Airports expanded its offerings in the second quarter by welcoming two new airlines - US Bangla Airlines offers three weekly flights to Chittagong and four to Dhaka, while British Airways serves London Heathrow daily.

The airport operators’ network of destinations also expanded through the addition of year-round services to Sarajevo (Wizzair Abu Dhabi), Chandigarh (IndiGo) and Jaipur, Antalya, Bali and Gassim (Etihad), and Turbat (Pakistan International Airline), as well as seasonal flights to Trabzon (Air Arabia Abu Dhabi) and Nice, Mykonos, Santorini and Malaga (Etihad).

AD Airports also handled 254,300 tonnes of cargo year-to-date, underscoring the emirate’s vital role in global trade.

Strategic partnerships and infrastructure enhancements have driven this achievement. Key initiatives included a partnership with Astral Aviation and Etihad Airways to optimise cargo flows between Africa and the UAE.

A new DHL airside facility was inaugurated during the second quarter aimed at boosting capacity, and the finalisation of the design phase of the new East Midfield cargo terminal, supporting the goal of handling 1.5 million tonnes of cargo by 2030.

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