Q1 passenger traffic up 34% in Abu Dhabi

Year-on-year passenger traffic, for the month of March, showed a correspondingly similar 35% growth rate with passengers up from 535,000 in March 2007 to over 722,000 passengers recorded in the same month this year.

Airport officials commented that taking into account that the busier summer months are still to come, growth figures realized in the first quarter point to a potential for Abu Dhabi International Airport to handle over nine million passengers by the end of the year.

Q1 also saw solid results from its cargo operations posting a 14% increase or 81,651 tons handled in the year's first three months. Year-on-year performance for March was maintained at a steady 9%.

Aircraft movements for the month of March saw a 27% increase, up from 6,158 to 7,818; Q1 results also demonstrated robust growth at 19%.

'With the addition of four new airlines through Abu Dhabi Airports over the first four months of the year - two in the first quarter - alongside the continued growth of the UAE's national airline, Etihad Airways, it is clear that our passenger and cargo business is set for strong growth through the year,' said Mohammed Al Bulooki, Director of Marketing and Communications, ADAC.

'Further opportunities will continue to present themselves in 2008 as we push forward on an agenda that creates greater connectivity and services for our customers to, through and from Abu Dhabi's Airports'.

'This is will be demonstrated both through the development of our facilities on the ground as well as a commitment to grow the number of airlines operating through our airports,' added Al Bulooki.

The new Terminal 3, due to open later this year, will further boost Abu Dhabi International Airport's passenger capacity by a further five-million - nearly doubling the current capacity (7m) to take on 12 million passengers.

Featuring eight gates, including two that are A380 compatible, the new terminal is intended to be used exclusively by Etihad Airways as an interim facility until the Midfield Terminal Complex (the 20-40 million passenger capacity terminal) comes on line in around three years time.

Currently, 37 airlines operate out of Abu Dhabi International Airport.