Dubai Airports Cargo`s freight volumes rise 31.5pc

Time:2010-03-03 Browse:44 Author:RISINGSUN

DUBAI Airports Cargo located at Dubai International Airport handled 171,453 tonnes of air freight in January, an increase of 31.5 per cent compared to the same month last year, marking the fourth straight month of double-digit growth in cargo.
"Dubai International has been registering robust growth since the second quarter of 2009 when the industry`s key hubs were still recording negative growth. Globally, IATA and ACI figures indicate the gradual return of passenger and cargo volumes as the world economy improves," saud Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths.
The rise in air cargo volumes in January is attributed to a surge in economic activity and the continuing expansion of Emirates Skycargo, factors which combined contributed to a 39.9 per cent year on year increase in transshipment volumes, 33.6 per cent growth in exports and a 29.3 per cent rise in imports, reported Trade Arabia News Service.
"Freight growth is likely to continue throughout the rest of the year as additional capacity comes on line and global cargo movement picks up," Mr Griffiths said.
The report noted that a portion of that traffic growth will be handled at Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International, scheduled to open for cargo operations in June, he added.
For the whole of 2009, air freight traffic passing through Dubai International Airport rose by 5.6 per cent year on year.