The rapid growth of Emirates Airline and flydubai helped to push Dubai International Airport's passenger traffic up to a record last year, with 47.2 million travellers passing through the hub.
The figure, a 15.3 per cent jump from 2009, also underscores the popularity of foreign airlines that serve the Dubai and Sharjah metropolitan area under the UAE's liberal open skies policy. Dubai Airports lists 133 airlines that fly into Dubai International, ranging from Aeroflot of Russia to Air Zimbabwe, contributing to the airport's status as the fifth-largest international air hub.
Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports, said last year was notable for its milestones. "We surpassed our growth projections, ushered in Dubai's status as a twin-airport city with the opening of Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International in June and celebrated Dubai International's 50th anniversary," he said. "The growth story continues in 2011 with passenger numbers expected to surge another 11 per cent to 52.2 million."
As a result, Dubai Airports is planning to boost capacity through improvements in ground infrastructure and systems, as well as airspace management, to ensure it accommodates the next waves of growth.
Taken together with Abu Dhabi International Airport's passenger growth last year, a 12 per cent expansion to nearly 11 million passengers, the results suggest the UAE's aviation industry is benefiting from sustained momentum.
Emirates Airline, the world's largest international carrier, accounts for the majority of airport visitors. The carrier introduced five new destinations last year, while substantially increasing capacity with eight new Airbus A380 superjumbos, and three new ultra long-haul Boeing 777-300ERs.
Since launching in June 2009, flydubai continued its rapid expansion with 17 new destinations last year, equivalent to one new route every three weeks.
With Dubai's status as a trading hub, and one with a sizeable population of expatriate workers, the airport has flourished with airlines flying there from four continents.
Delta, United Airlines and United Parcel Service operate flights from the US while eight airlines from Iran fly into Dubai. From Africa, 15 operators serve Dubai airport, including Afriqiyah Airways of Libya and Kenya Airways.
Cargo volumes at the airport rose to 2.27 million tonnes, a 17.7 per cent rise over the 1.93 million tonnes recorded in 2009, said Dubai Airports. However, the results showed contrasting trends for the last three months of the year, with record passenger traffic but air cargo volumes flat or marginally up from the same period in 2009. Last month, the airport handled 188,103 tonnes of freight, compared with 182,874 tonnes in the same period in 2009, an increase of 2.9 per cent.
Passenger traffic, on the other hand, broke the four million mark in each of the last three months of last year.
Dubai's traffic growth, which nearly doubled from 2005 when the airport handled 24.7 million passengers, was a sign of the UAE's successful liberal air policies, said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the head of Dubai Airports, Emirates Airline and flydubai. "The key to our success has been our co-ordinated and supportive approach to aviation," he said. "It starts with an open skies policy, competitive rates and a tax-free environment."
igale@thenational.ae
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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Duminy's Test career in numbers
Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Kathmandu.%20Fares%20with%20Air%20Arabia%20and%20flydubai%20start%20at%20Dh1%2C265.%3Cbr%3EIn%20Kathmandu%2C%20rooms%20at%20the%20Oasis%20Kathmandu%20Hotel%20start%20at%20Dh195%20and%20Dh120%20at%20Hotel%20Ganesh%20Himal.%3Cbr%3EThird%20Rock%20Adventures%20offers%20professionally%20run%20group%20and%20individual%20treks%20and%20tours%20using%20highly%20experienced%20guides%20throughout%20Nepal%2C%20Bhutan%20and%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20Himalayas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills