Like neighbouring Dubai, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has reported ongoing growth in cargo and passenger movements with a 6.2 per cent increase in cargo volumes in August, year-onyear and a 12.4 percent rise in aircraft movements. The airport’s cargo volumes were given a boost from new services by Maximus, China Airlines and Etihad’s expanding network.

“In this challenging time for the aviation industry, Abu Dhabi International Airport is still seeing positive growth, route developments, and increasing cargo loads,” said Ahmed Al Haddabi, senior VP, Airport Operations, ADAC. “In spite of the current global slowdown in air transport, the strength of our economy and the commercial fundamentals of the Abu Dhabi market have ensured increasing demand.”

In terms of passenger movements, India remained the airport’s largest market with an overall increase in passenger traffic of eight per cent, while Pakistan came second. The UK was the airport’s third largest market for the month, leaving Saudi Arabia in fourth place. Passenger traffic to Australia continued to increase rapidly due to the new Athens-Melbourne connectivity, and became the fifth busiest country destination with a 141 per cent increase over August 2008.

The top five destinations recorded a total of 200,607 passengers, with London in the top spot with 51,757 passengers. Bangkok took second place with 38,828 passengers, whilst Bahrain, Doha and Cairo came in third, fourth and fifth respectively with a total of 101,314 passengers.