Dubai International emerges as world’s sixth busiest airport
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While airports in the UK and other parts of the world are dealing with shrinking passenger numbers and job cuts, Middle East’s largest airport, the Dubai International has recorded continued growth in the face of the global economic recession.
The airport saw a 9% growth in both passenger and cargo traffic during 2008. In the first seven months of 2009, Dubai has been the only airport among the world’s top 20 to show a growth in passenger numbers.
Passenger traffic at the airport for this period shows a 6.1% year to date growth. The airport has already climbed to sixth place in the World’s Top 20 list for passenger numbers, and overall 2009 number are expected to propel it into the world’s top five airlines.
Dubai’s strategic location is considered as one of the major factors in its impressive showing. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, says: "Around 40 percent of the world’s population lives within four hours flying time of Dubai and 80 percent live within 12 hours."
"Furthermore, for long haul flights, if you draw a line between New York and Singapore, London and Sydney or Tokyo and Johannesburg, most of those lines go through the Middle East."
Griffiths explains that British travellers looking to travel to Sydney would also find the airport a convenient stop-over, since Dubai International is connected to seven airports in the UK. This means UK travellers can fly through Dubai rather than taking a local flight to London.