Abu Dhabi sees 1.2m airport passengers in July

Abu Dhabi International Airport handled 1.2 million passengers in the month of July, a 13.3 percent increase on 2010, according to the latest traffic report. The holiday month also saw a steady increase in aircraft movements, up 3.1 percent to reach 9,700.In a statement, Abu Dhabi Airports Company attributed the growth to an increase in outbound tourism in the period prior to Ramadan. It also noted how passenger traffic had been boosted by an increasing number of airlines operating out of the terminals, and a higher frequency of flights. “This double digit growth in July passenger traffic reveals the increasing attractiveness of Abu Dhabi as a destination during the summer season and the healthy mix of residents at the capital that is driving further inbound and outbound traffic throughout these months. “The continuous flow of passengers through the Emirate remains strong as the airport continues to offer efficient connectivity for transit passengers across all continents." The airport, which recorded 1 million passengers in a month for the first time in July last year, has also seen a surge in duty free sales in recently. Retail sales rose by 15 percent from 2009 to 2010, hitting a record AED582m ($148.46), with electronics, cosmetics and luxury products seeing the biggest growth rates. The top five routes from Abu Dhabi International Airport this July were London, Doha, Bangkok, Jeddah, and Manila. Together, flights to these destinations accounted for 20 percent of the total passenger traffic. From / Arabian Business News