Abu Dhabi International airport has recorded an 11.2 per cent increase in passenger traffic for January 2010 compared with the same time in 2009, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Airports Company.

The total volume of passenger traffic for January was 903,000, compared to 812,000 passengers in January 2009.

Aircraft movements also increased 13.3 per cent from 8,049 in 2009 to 9,117. Meanwhile, cargo volumes also increased year-on-year.

The volume of cargo passing through Abu Dhabi International airport in January was 31,397 tonnes. This is a rise of 25.6 per cent from 24,991 tonnes in January 2009.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company attributes the growth to a number of conferences and exhibitions in the capital and the expanding network of its carrier Etihad Airways.

A contributing factor to the increase in cargo loads in January was the large volume of aid sent to Haiti after the recent earthquake.