Air freight traffic at Dubai’s second airport, Dubai World Central (DWC) rose 7.7 per cent during 2015 according to the year-end traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports today (February 15).

Air cargo volumes for the year totalled 888,714 tonnes, up 7.7 per cent from 824,933 tonnes recorded during 2014. Year on year cargo volumes increased despite a dip in fourth quarter (Q4) traffic when DWC handled 228,770 tonnes of freight down 9.9 per cent from 253,932 tonnes recorded during same quarter in 2014.

DWC welcomed 179,781 passengers in Q4, up 62 per cent from the 110,920 who used the facility during the same period in 2014. Passenger numbers rose thanks to the introduction of flights operated by flydubai from October 2015.

For the full year DWC welcomed 463,236 passengers in 2015 down 45.2 per cent from the 845,046 recorded during 2014. Both cargo and passenger numbers in 2014 were inflated by additional services operated into DWC while Dubai International was reduced to a single runway airport as a result of the runway refurbishment project.

Aircraft movements in Q4 rose 3.1 per cent to 12,052 compared to 11,687 movements during the same period last year. Full year aircraft movements reached 42,055 down 11.8 per cent from 47,655 movements recorded in 2014 again due to the one-off spike in activity created by the runway project at DXB.

“DWC is entering an exciting new phase of its development as we expand the facility to prepare for additional operations from flydubai,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

“Just five years after its opening, DWC has risen up the ranks to take the #18 position in terms of international cargo volumes. As passenger services continue to ramp up DWC, it will similarly elevate its status as an attractive option to DXB for passengers.” – TradeArabia News Service