Dubai International Airport has been confirmed as the world's second busiest airport for passenger traffic, according to official aviation industry data.

Latest figures published by Airports Council International showed Dubai moving ahead of Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport for the first time.

Since the start of the year, Dubai International has moved up two positions in the global rankings and now has London Heathrow's title as the world's busiest international airport firmly within its sights.

Story continues below
Advertisement

Dubai Airports has seen a 13 percent increase in passenger traffic to 10,640,120 passengers in the first two months of this year, up from 9,413,286 for the same period in 2012.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said: "It is extremely gratifying to see Dubai International leap up two places in the international passenger rankings in a single year.

"It is a clear signal that more people are choosing Dubai as their preferred hub not only for its extensive global network but the superb facilities on the ground too.

"Given our surging growth rate and London Heathrow's capacity constraints we are well placed to overtake them as the world's busiest airport for international traffic by 2015."

In February, Dubai International Airport’s new A380 concourse – the world’s first purpose-built facility for the aircraft - opened fully.

All 20 gates capable of handling the double decker Airbus superjumbo are now operational.

Dubai Airport intends to increase capacity to 90m passengers by 2018.