Dubai International welcomed a record 7.7 million passengers in August, eclipsing its previous record achieved in July, according to the monthly traffic report issued today by operator Dubai Airports.

Passenger traffic at DXB passengers reached 7,727,105 compared to 7,282,256 recorded in the corresponding month last year, an increase of 6.1 per cent.

The year to date traffic totalled 55,850,353 passengers up 6.9 per cent compared to 52,264,223 recorded during the first eight months of 2015.

The seasonal rush of travellers, in particular UAE residents returning for the start of the academic year, boosted the traffic leading to a bumper month.

Spurred by additional capacity and new services launched by a number of carriers including Emirates and flydubai, Eastern Europe was the fastest-expanding market in terms of percentage growth (67.9 per cent), followed by Asia (13 per cent), South America (11.7 per cent), and the Indian Subcontinent (11.7 per cent).

India remained the top destination country (924,256 passengers), followed by the UK (584,508 passengers) and Saudi Arabia (535,280 passengers).

The average number of passengers per flight during the month was 237 – one of the highest DXB has ever seen.

Aircraft movements totalled 33,827 during the month under review compared to 34,773 movements recorded in August 2015, marginally down by 2.7 per cent.

Year to date aircraft movement totalled 276,233 up 2.9 per cent compared to 268,360, recorded during the same period in 2015.

Paul Griffiths, chief executive, Dubai Airports said: “Consecutive months with record breaking traffic is a great way to mark the 56th anniversary of DXB which occurred last week.

“Looking back it’s astonishing to see how quickly a tiny airport that was once a refuelling stop for airlines has turned into the world’s number one international hub.

“Over these five and a half decades, DXB has welcomed more than three quarters of a billion passengers.”