Dubai International Airport has recorded double-digit growth in passenger traffic in July.

Defying the global aviation downturn, it said year-on-year passenger traffic rose 12.6 percent, the largest hike since May 2008, and its second consecutive month of growth.

Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer Paul Griffiths said: “The Middle East continues to demonstrate vibrant growth during the global economic downturn and Dubai International is at the epicentre of that growth.”

“The double-digit increases we’ve seen in the past two months are the direct result of a boost in passenger numbers from Emirates and other long-haul network carriers and continual growth in the low cost sector,” he added.

The year-to-date traffic at the end of July stood at 23.15 million passengers, up 6.1 per cent from the same period last year, according to the company.
Griffiths also remained upbeat about its cargo division. He said “As for cargo, considering that airports around the world continue to record sharp decline in freight traffic, we have fared well.”

Cargo traffic for July rose 1.9 percent from the same month last year, reversing the fall in traffic recorded in June, DIA said.
Griffiths said that the outlook for the remainder of 2009 was bright, but that growth figures for August and September are likely to fluctuate and reflect the holy month of Ramadan.

DIA is now ranked the world’s 6th busiest airport in international passenger numbers according to the Airport Council International. It also ranks Dubai Airports Cargo as the world’s 4th busiest for international air cargo.