Abu Dhabi, UAE, 21 February 2009: Abu Dhabi International Airport today released its traffic figures for January 2009 and, amidst the backdrop of a worldwide slowdown, has posted a healthy 10 per cent rise in passenger traffic over the same month last year.

Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Only a month earlier, Abu Dhabi International Airport passed a significant milestone by handling over nine million passengers in 2008 (an airport record), having exceeded conservative expectations over the previous two years with an unparalleled, 30-plus percentile growth rate.

“We have said all along that, even during buoyant market conditions, growth rates such as we have seen [+30 per cent] over the last two years were not sustainable indefinitely, but we are pleased that, in light of the added challenge of the global economic slow down, we remain an airport of choice and have continued to realise double-digit growth,” said Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Chairman and Managing Director of ADAC.

The trailing 12 month figures, however, did point to growth rates that have been more familiar to Abu Dhabi International Airport over the last few years with a 27.8 per cent increase in traffic – 9.1m passengers by the close of the month versus 7.1m on 31 January 2008.

Cargo for January recovered from a slight decline in the previous month by posting a 2.0 per cent increase on last year’s tonnage; aircraft movements were also up by 2.8 per cent. TTM figures for both cargo and aircraft movements showed a respective 11.2 and 11.7 percent increase.

In related news, ADAC also released data highlighting the top five most popular city destinations travelled to from Abu Dhabi, in January 2009, which were: Doha (first), London, Cairo, Bangkok and Bahrain. These destinations accounted for 16.9 per cent of all traffic through Abu Dhabi International Airport in January.

Abu Dhabi International Airport Traffic Table
January 2009 traffic results:
Abu Dhabi International Airport Passenger and Aircraft Movements

• Passengers include transit and transfer.
• Cargo is for arriving and departing tons and excludes transfer and transit cargo.
• Movements include all aircraft including cargo and general aviation.
• Any adjustments to preliminary statistics will be included in the year to date results in future months.

-ENDS-

About Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC):
Abu Dhabi Airports Company, ADAC, is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Emiri Decree number 5, of March 4th, 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate's aviation infrastructure. ADAC has officially taken over the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain international Airports, as of 28/09/2006. Under its mandate is the re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport, which includes the new midfield terminal – a facility that will offer a 20 million passenger per year operational capacity when its first phase opens in late 2011.

Press Office, ADAC – Abu Dhabi Airports Company 
P.O. Box:          94449, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E
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E-mail:             achupeau@adac.ae
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