Passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi airport surpasses 1m

The Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded a double-digit growth in passenger traffic of 24.5 per cent in February, with 1,080,457 passengers passing through the airport for the 8th consecutive month. Aircraft movements also continued to steadily grow with a 3.8 per cent increase for the month of February totalling 9,263 movements. This growth is due to the new destinations for Etihad, including the five weekly service to Shanghai in China, and the operation of new airlines including Safi Airways of Afghanistan, which now operates four weekly flights to Kabul. The report also showed that cargo shipments are on the rise, increasing by 13.2 per cent in comparison with the same period last year, with the airport handling 42,860 tonnes of cargo. Commenting on this strong performance, Eng. Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operating Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), said: "As Etihad Airways adds new routes to its network and more airlines launch services from the airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport will continue to provide convenient and efficient travel choices, along with the award winning world class services to all passengers. The increasing attractiveness of Abu Dhabi as a destination for business and pleasure remains the key factor in this exceptional growth witnessed at the capital's hub, driving continuous flow of passengers through the airport." The top five routes from Abu Dhabi International Airport during February were Doha, which grew by an impressive 32 per cent, leaving Bangkok at number two, followed by Manila, London and Jeddah. From gulfnews