Air traffic through Dubai’s two international airports is forecast to increase by 13.6 per cent in 2010.

Dubai Airports, the emirate’s airport operator, says continued growth at Dubai International and the opening of Al-Maktoum International in Jebel Ali in 2010 will drive traffic to double-digit growth.

The airport operator predicts total passenger traffic will reach 40.5 million by the end of 2009 and 46 million in 2010.

The first phase of Al-Maktoum International will open as a cargo and executive passenger terminal in June 2010.

Dubai Airports predicts about one million passengers could use the site during the second half of 2010.

Dubai Airports has started design work on the expansion of Terminal 2 at Dubai International airport, which will bring total capacity to its maximum of 80 million passengers a year (MEED 10:7:09).