Dubai handles 90,000 tonnes of cargo in 2011

Dubai Airports announced traffic statistics for Dubai World Central that showed the airport handled 89,729 tonnes of air freight during its first full calendar year of operations. In 2011 Dubai World Central's average monthly air cargo volumes totalled 7,477 tonnes compared to 795 tonnes per month recorded during the airport's first half year of operations in 2010. Cargo transit traffic comprised 32,989 tonnes or 37% of volume. Aircraft movements for the year came in at 8,198 of which 3,609 (44%) were commercial cargo flights, 4,548 (55.5%) were test and training flights and 41 (0.5%) were general aviation operations. During 2011, 36 airlines operated into Dubai World Central, predominantly as cargo charter operations. "Although the airport is in its infancy, incremental cargo traffic growth has been steady and continues to ramp up as new operations are launched," said Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports. "Sea to air freight traffic growth was particularly robust as airlines took advantage of the airport's bonded link to the Jebel Ali port. Additionally the road feeder service operating between Dubai International and Dubai World Central facilitated the smooth flow of transit airfreight. Combined, Dubai's two airports handled 2,279,219 tonnes of airfreight in 2011, which is up marginally from 2010." "It's clear Dubai World Central will play a pivotal role in providing the capacity needed to accommodate projected growth," added Griffiths. "In terms of cargo, the need is more immediate. By 2015 cargo volumes will top three million tonnes exceeding the current capacity of Dubai International. We expect a good proportion of that growth to spill over to Dubai World Central. As for passenger operations, Dubai International will continue to serve as the primary focus of expansion and we will be investing $7.8bn to boost capacity to 90 million passengers by 2018. That said, operational trails for DWC's passenger terminal are set to start during the second quarter of this year and we could see commercial passenger operations commence in 2013." .