ArabianBusiness.com - Middle East Business News Saturday, 30 August 2008 | 19:51 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

Print this page Print this page | Email this to a friend Email this to a friend | Discuss this article (0 Comments) |

Lack of GCC airspace capacity threatens Dubai's growth

by Amy Glass on Monday, 05 May 2008
CAPACITY LACKING: Griffiths has called for intra-regional cooperation to unlock restricted airspace. (Getty Images)

A severe lack of airspace capacity in the GCC could harm Dubai’s aviation growth, an leading industry executive warned on Sunday.

Speaking at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said there was a “pressing need” to increase airspace capacity across the Gulf region.

“We will have the accommodation on the ground but what we must address is the very real challenge of airspace capacity. This means unlocking current 'no fly' zones around the GCC which potentially pose a fundamental barrier to growth,” Griffiths said.

Story continues below
advertisement

Currently Middle Eastern airlines are forced to fly in restricted air corridors, with security-related no-fly zones reportedly in Iran, Afghanistan, Kuwait and parts of Saudi Arabia, forcing flights from Dubai to the UK or Australia to take extensive detours.

Griffiths said issue could not be solved by independent countries and called for intra-regional cooperation.

If the problem was not addressed it could prove a “significant problem” for the growth of the region's hotels and tourism industry, he added.

Griffiths also said that over-capacity in the Gulf region was a possibility, given the expansion at airports in Abu Dhabi, Doha and other destinations.

However, globally there was a need for more airports, more runways and more terminals, he said.

“Dubai needs more airport capacity and we must supply it if the emirate is to remain it a success,” he said.

Griffiths also suggested operations at the existing international airport could be discontinued once the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central was fully operational.

The $10 billion Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali is expected to be fully operational by 2017.

Print Print | Email Email | Discuss this article |



USER COMMENTS (0 COMMENTS)

CLICK HERE TO POST A COMMENT

Add your Comment
All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *
(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code * Code


Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

RELATED LINKS

  1. Dubai Airports»
  2. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)»

 EMAIL ALERTS

  1. Dubai Airports

  2. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

  3. Transportation



BUSINESS FEATURES

Super size

Cargo operator Swift Freight discusses the big issues surrounding the freight of outsize materials.

Cabin pressure

In May, Silverjet became the third business class-only carrier to suspend operations within the last six months.

Arabian Business comes live from the A380

Our man, Anil Bhoyrul, sends readers updates from inaugural flight of the Emirates A380.

ArabianBusiness.com/Jobs - Middle East Jobs Search
Browse all jobs »

BUSINESS INTERVIEWS

Think big

Mamdouh Shehata, GM of ThyssenKrupp Elevator on the massive Dubai International Airport project.

The life of flying

TNT Airways' Louis Lempereur on whether pilots really do have one of the most glamorous jobs in the world.

Stand and deliver

Fadi Ghandour, founder and CEO of Aramex, reveals how he turned his firm into a global logistics giant.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM