The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced that air traffic movements in the country grew at 8.7 per cent in August, compared to the same month last year.

The GCAA monthly report indicated that total air traffic movements in August 2010 were 53,525, at an average of 1727 movements per day.

GCAA's monthly report for August 2010 showed the number of air traffic movements in each UAE airport. Dubai ranked first with 24127 air traffic movements. Over flights stood next at 11776 air traffic movements. Abu Dhabi ranked third with 8003 air traffic movements. According to the report, air traffic movements in Sharjah International Airport ranked fourth with 5540 movements.

Local flights between UAE airports were in the fifth position with 3408 movements. Fujairah International Airport witnessed 352 movements, while Al Ain Airport and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport had 206 and 93 air traffic movements respectively. Al Maktoum International Airport witnessed 20 shipping movements.

“Daily air traffic movements in the UAE remained high in spite of the fact that the holiday season this year coincided with Ramadan,” said Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, director general, GCAA.

“On the other hand, we look forward to enhancing the civil aviation sector internationally by ensuring the re-nomination of the UAE in the ICAO Council elections to be held at the beginning of next October,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service