Airport growth fuels emissions headache

AVIATION BOOM: Airport expansion projects across the Mena region have been valued at over $68 billion, with $21 billion in Dubai alone. (Getty Images)

The Middle East’s booming aviation industry is facing a major environmental hurdle as massive airport development continues to spiral around the region, a Dubai Airport Show official said on Tuesday.

Despite the economic advantages of aviation growth, “airports and aeroplanes are major contributors to carbon emissions, and it is important to start a dialogue about any environmental implications versus economical development”, said Nick Webb, director of Streamline Marketing Group, which organises the show.

According to research 18% of fuel is wasted each year through airport infrastructure and operational inefficiencies, amounting to 120 million tonnes of carbon dioxide worldwide.

“The amount of fuel being wasted every year is startling and a major concern to both the aviation industry and its customers,” said Webb, adding there were many options available to lower CO2 emissions, from reducing airplane taxiing time to the use of alternative fuel for ground support equipment.

“I think the aviation industry has the ability, desire and resources to overcome this environmental hurdle,” he argued.

A ‘Future Airports’ conference at this year’s Airport Show would gather aviation leaders to discuss this and other issues surrounding major airport expansion, said Webb, describing it as a “great opportunity” to reduce future impact from noise pollution to local air quality.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region is set for the largest aviation growth in the world between 2008 and 2011, almost 40% higher than the global average.

Projects across the region have been valued at over $68 billion, with $21 billion in Dubai alone. The new $10 billion Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali is set to become the world’s largest international airport.

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