Passenger traffic at Dubai International, rose 4.4 per cent in October, according to a traffic report issued today by operator Dubai Airports.

Passenger numbers in October totalled 6,250,810, compared to 5,989,007 recorded in October of last year. Year to date traffic rose 11.2 per cent to 64,947,687 compared to 58,411,554 recorded during the same period last year.

Aircraft movements rose to 34,917 during October, up 6.5 per cent from the 32,798 recorded during the same month last year. Year to date aircraft movements were up 16 per cent to 337,316 compared to 290,779 recorded during the corresponding period in 2014 due primarily to the impact of the 80-day runway upgrade programme conducted last year. Passengers per aircraft movement in October came in at 188, while the year to date figure remained a high 202 – driven by the Emirates’ fleet of wide-body aircraft.

Eastern Europe (+55.4 per cent) topped all markets in terms of percentage* passenger growth, followed by North America (+19.4 per cent), as a result of Emirates increasing capacity on several routes and launch of additional daily flights to both New York and Seattle, and Africa (+7.8 per cent). In terms of overall passenger traffic, the Indian sub-continent was the top market during the month (+87,015), closely followed by Western Europe (+80,047). India remained the top country for passenger numbers. U.K., Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and U.S.A rounded out the top five.

Air freight traffic was up 7.6 per cent for the month with volumes of 215,714 tonnes compared to 200,435 tonnes recorded during the same month last year. Year-to-date cargo traffic totalled 2,068,844 tonnes, up 3.1 per cent from the 2,006,884 tonnes shipped during the first ten months of last year.

“Traffic continues its steady climb as we approach the end of what will be another record year for both cargo and passenger numbers,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.