Dubai World Central reports sharp rise in freight activity

It was not just Dubai International Airport that had a hugely successful year in 2012, it seems.According to Dubai Airports, Dubai World Central had an incredible 12 months, with freight traffic rising by 144 per cent when compared with 2011.The facility handled a total of 219,092 tonnes of cargo throughout the year, which worked out at an average of 18,258 each month.There was also a 99 per cent upturn in aircraft movements, with more than 30 airlines using the complex to deliver goods.Eight new carriers launched services from the airport in 2012, including ZetAvia, Abakan Aiva, Silk Way Airlines, Khalton Air, Iran Aseman, Vision Air, Saudi Arabian and Sakavia Services.This highlights just how much investment potential Dubai is currently offering to companies all around the world.Dubai World Central has only been in operation for two full years thus far and it is already becoming an important hub for air freight in the Middle East.Experts are predicting the airport to become even busier in 2013 and beyond."Less than three years after its opening Dubai World Central is fast emerging as a significant cargo airport in the region," commented Paul Griffiths - chief executive officer at Dubai Airports."That emergence is set to continue as airlines take advantage of the airport's facilities, road feeder service to Dubai International and bonded link to the Jebel Ali port."Of course, the impressive annual performance of Dubai International Airport has also been well documented in recent weeks.Leaders of Dubai Airports confirmed that a record 57.6 million passengers passed through the facility in 2012, which was a 13.2 per cent improvement on 2011 - enough to ensure the complex became the third busiest in the world.The facility continues to undergo major redevelopment work, which will take the capacity to 75 million this year.With more than 60 million visitors expected to land in the emirate in 2013, this expansion work has come in the nick of time.