Cargo traffic spikes at Dubai World Central

Air freight traffic at Dubai World Central rose 15.9 per cent during first nine months of the year according to a report issued by operator Dubai Airports.

The year to date cargo as at the end of September reached 662,143 tonnes, up 15.9 per cent from 571,001 tonnes recorded during the first nine months of 2014.

Year on year cargo volumes increased despite a dip in volumes during the third quarter when DWC handled 219,131 tonnes of freight, down 15.6 per cent from 259,636 tonnes recorded during same quarter in 2014.

Both passenger and cargo traffic at DWC registered contractions in the third quarter due to the impact of increase in activity at the airport resulting from the 90-day closure of runway at Dubai International for a refurbishment project between May and July last year.

DWC welcomed 73,466 passengers during quarter three, a contraction of -52.9 per cent compared to 155,997 recorded during the corresponding period in 2014.

The year to date traffic totalled 283,455 passengers, down -61.39 per cent from 734,126 recorded during the first nine months in 2014.

Between May and July 2014 when Dubai International was reduced to a single runway airport as a result of the runway refurbishment project, DWC witnessed a triple-digit surge in traffic welcoming 562,823 passengers.

Aircraft movements in the third quarter totalled 9,137 compared to 10,784 movements during the same period last year, a decrease of 15.2 per cent. Year to date aircraft movements in September reached 30,003, down 16.5 per cent from 35,968 movements recorded in the first nine months of 2014 again due to the one-off spike in traffic created by the runway programme at DXB.

Commenting on the results, Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, said: “The launch of flydubai’s operations at DWC recently is welcome development not only because it offers more choice to our customers, but also adds to the airport’s growth.

“The permanent relocation of pure cargo operators to DWC earlier this year and the ongoing influx of cargo charter flights will continue to drive the growth in freight volumes at DWC in the long run.”