Cargo volumes at Dubai International Airport continued their resurgence in March, with volumes increasing 21.9 per cent to 194,100 tonnes, as compared to 159,301 tonnes recorded in March 2009, according to Dubai Airports.

The increase was driven largely by volume growth at Emirates Skycargo, along with additional traffic generated by new cargo operators and the ongoing recovery of air cargo worldwide as companies continue to replenish inventories around the globe. Aircraft movements also increased by 6.4 per cent.

Passenger volumes generated by traffic to and from India, UK, Iran, Germany and Pakistan were also up 21.8 per cent in March to a record 3,968,672 passengers in the month, compared to 3,259,072 during the same period the previous year.

Passenger numbers increased in March due to the worldwide economic recovery, capacity increases by Emirates throughout its network, new routes launched by flydubai along with additional frequencies and routes offered by other airlines operating by Dubai International, Dubai Airports said.

During the first quarter of the year, Dubai’s international passenger traffic grew 20.4 per cent, while cargo volumes rose 26.4 per cent.

Commenting on the figures, Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, said: “The pace of the growth we’re seeing is frenetic thanks to capacity increases, gradually improving economic conditions and rising consumer confidence.

“Although passenger numbers grew by 21.8 per cent, total aircraft movement rose just 9.6 per cent, indicating that load factors and average aircraft sizes had increased.” The strongest traffic increases were seen on routes to North America, Russia and Asia while the highest passenger volumes were generated by traffic to and from India, UK, Iran, Germany and Pakistan.

Griffiths added that while he expected last week’s European airspace disruptions to have an impact on April’s traffic figures, the strong surge of traffic created as airlines cleared the backlog would help make up the difference.

Dubai’s passenger traffic has increased by a yearly average of 10 per cent since 1980, rising from three million travellers then to more than 40 million last year. The increase in growth at Dubai International Airport last year versus 2008 was almost 20 per cent, despite the global recession and air cargo has grown by an average 14 per cent per year in the same period. This year, visitors to Dubai will pass the 10 million mark – almost double the number of visitors to Australia.

By 2030 – Dubai Airports has forecast passenger traffic at both its fields will reach 150 million per annum, along with 17 million tonnes of cargo and 750,000 yearly aircraft movement.