QAIA receives over 3.4m passengers in H1

AMMAN — Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) received 3,424,461 passengers during the first half of 2016, recording a 5.4 per cent climb in passenger traffic (PAX) compared with the same period last year.

Aircraft movements (ACM) and cargo traffic figures also recorded discernible increases as of the end of June 2016, achieving overall year-to-date surges of 5.7 per cent and 6.6 per cent, respectively, according to a statement of the Airport International Group (AIG) — the Jordanian company responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of QAIA.

For June, which largely coincided with the fasting month of Ramadan, AIG reported QAIA’s first decline in monthly PAX figures this year in comparison to 2015.

QAIA welcomed 551,750 PAX in comparison to 593,006 PAX received in the same month last year, registering a year-on-year decrease of 7 per cent, according to the AIG figures.

Following a consistent streak of traffic growth since the beginning of 2016, QAIA registered 6,008 ACM, as opposed to 6,124 ACM in June 2015, effecting a 1.9 per cent drop. QAIA also handled 8,727 tonnes of cargo set against 8,874 tonnes throughout June of last year for a fall of 1.7 per cent.

“We’re very pleased to have recorded such strong overall traffic growth during [the first half of the year], despite June’s decline in year-on-year passenger, aircraft movement and cargo traffic results. This was largely due to June’s coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan marking a period when travelling generally tends to slow down,” the statement quoted AIG CEO Kjeld Binger as saying.

“Nevertheless, we look forward to witnessing a resurgence in traffic statistics in the months to come, especially given the approach of Eid Al-Adha, the remainder of the summer holiday,” he said, referring to the Muslim feast marking the end of the pilgrimage season.