Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded a 12.2 per cent increase in passenger traffic in May compared to the same month in 2009.

The total of passengers that passed through the airport in May was 830,000 compared to a total of 740,000 passengers, which travelled through the airport last year, according to figures from Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac).

In April, passenger traffic rose 10.1 per cent at the airport (MEED 23:5:10).

Aircraft movements at the airport increased 12.4 per cent on the previous year while cargo movements were up 19.4 per cent.

Abu Dhabi airport handled 38,869 tonnes of cargo in May 2010, compared to 32,550 tonnes in May 2009.

Regionally, passenger traffic to North America was the main driver of growth at the airport as passengers volumes to that region rose 104 per cent in May.

The majority of May’s passengers travelled to Manila followed by London and Doha. Due to political unrest in Thailand, Bangkok dropped to fourth place from third place in April. Bahrain was in fifth position.