UAE air traffic movements up

Despite the Middle East political unrest, UAE airports managed to record 8.25 per cent growth in airport air traffic movements in the first half of the year, with 3,37,500 movements compared to the same period last year which saw 3,11,803 movements, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said yesterday in a statement. Dubai led the way in June accounting for 24,974 movements, or 44.4 per cent of the total air traffic movements recorded by UAE airports, according to GCAA estimates, while Abu Dhabi accounted for 14.6 per cent of the movements. Total air movements in June 2011, meanwhile, totalled 56,291, up 8.2 per cent compared to 52,039 movements during the corresponding month of 2010, according to GCAA data. Sharjah, however, experienced a total of 4,980 movements in the month, representing 8.8 per cent of the total UAE air traffic movements. "The UAE is constantly putting huge efforts to provide the best environment that enables continuous growth in the civil aviation sector. With constant improvements in performance levels, efforts are underway to provide a more harmonious regulatory and organisational environment that goes in line with the current developments, especially in terms of environment protection," Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of GCAA, said in a statement. He added that other steps in the direction being taken include plans to limit carbon emissions in the region, and attract nationals to work in the sector. From / Gulf News