Passenger numbers at Dubai International continued to rise in March with 7.2 million guests passing through the airport, according to operator Dubai Airports’ latest monthly traffic report.

Passenger numbers at DXB grew 7.4 per cent to 7,237,509 in March 2016, up from 6,736,929 registered during the same month in 2015.

This brings quarter one passenger traffic numbers at DXB to 20,948,690 an increase of 6.8 per cent compared to the 19,606,324 that visited the airport during the same period in 2015.

Passenger aircraft movements totalled 34,318 in March, up 4.5 per cent compared to 32,838 in March 2015.

During the first quarter of 2016 DXB handled 100,137 flights, up 5.4 per cent from the 94,981 handled during quarter one of 2015.

Eastern Europe was the fastest expanding market in terms of percentage growth (13.5 per cent), followed by the Indian subcontinent (10.8 per cent), Western Europe (10.7 per cent) and the GCC (10.4 per cent).

India remained the top destination country in March with a total of 959,238 passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia (593,459 passengers) and the UK (545,208 passengers).

London topped the list of destination cities, followed by Doha, Jeddah and Mumbai.
Freight volumes handled at DXB totalled 217,201 tonnes in March 2016 up 0.1 per cent from the 216,879 tonnes recorded in the same period last year.

During the first quarter of 2016, freight volumes grew 3.4 per cent per cent to 615,144 tonnes, up from the 594,696 tonnes handled in Q1 2015.

“It’s clear that seven million is fast becoming the new norm at DXB and keeps on target to meet our forecast of over 85 million passengers by year end,” said Paul Griffiths, chief executive, Dubai Airports.

“But our focus is not only on quantity, it’s also on quality.

“We are continually striving to enhance the customer experience.

“The recently opened Concourse D has elevated the offering for the 60 international airlines that operate from that facility.

“And work will soon begin on the complete refurbishment of Concourse C.”