Dubai Airports, operator of Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), also called Al Maktoum International, reported that the combined freight handled by both facilities jumped 18.1 percent in 2014, further strengthening the Middle East’s position as a world trade center. At nearby Abu Dhabi, freight volume jumped 17 percent in 2014.
Breaking out Dubai’s two airports, DXB actually handled 3.1 percent less cargo in 2014, at 2.4 million tonnes, whereas DWC handled 758,371 tonnes, an increase of 262.5 percent. The high increase rate at DWC reflects the required shift of all freighter traffic from DXB to the new DWC in early 2014
Passenger traffic also increased in DXB, which has now passed London’s Heathrow as the busiest airport for international passenger traffic.
At other major hubs, Hong Kong grew by 6 percent, handling 4.4 million tonnes of freight in 2014, while Shanghai saw growth of 7.3 percent, handling 3.6 million tonnes last year. Other hubs, which also had good years, were Frankfurt, handling 2.16 million tonnes, Los Angeles, handling 1.8 million tonnes, Amsterdam Schiphol, handling 1.6 million tonnes and Heathrow with 1.5 million tonnes.