Build, supply, operate

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 30 June 2008

With a record number of suppliers attending this year's Dubai Airport Show, focus was placed firmly on the massive build developments taking place across the region and the role of future airports.

The ongoing aviation boom in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, and the opportunities and challenges that the region's future airports present were highlighted when the aviation industry's regional showcase event opened in Dubai at the start of June.

Attracting 600 suppliers from 40 countries, and over 100 civil aviation authorities and airports, the eighth Airport Show was opened by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai Airports.

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The highest growth rate in aviation is being recorded and that is 40% higher than the current global average.

The rapid rate of airport development in the region and the projected increase in passenger and cargo traffic were among the issues to be addressed on day one of the Future Airports conference, running alongside the show.

Featuring senior representatives from civil aviation authorities, airports and build and supply companies, the Future Airports conference provided a forum for aviation leaders from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa to share their vision of future airports and discuss pertinent issues surrounding rapid aviation growth in the region.

The Future Airports conference was opened by Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dubai Airports: "The highest growth rate in aviation is being recorded, and that is 40% higher than the current global average, and it is not going to stop there. Within the next few years the collective annual capacity of airports in the region will reach 400 million passengers with Dubai responsible for about 50% of that total capacity. Traffic at Dubai International Airport is growing at a rate of about 20% per annum making it the fastest growing airport in the world's top 30, with 34 million passengers last year and an expected 40 million plus in 2008."

Griffiths addressed the challenges that Dubai International Airport will face due to the fast rate of growth and the effects on capacity, not just in the air, but throughout the GCC region.

"Dubai Airports' projections suggest movements will have to be increased by up to 50% to accommodate growth in traffic over the next seven years, at a time when there are very ambitious growth plans in the region."

"The challenge will be to ensure that the most effective and efficient processing of traffic at Dubai International combined with the expedient development programme at Dubai World Central combine together to ensure that growth within the region of airport capacity is not constrained.

"Dubai International will have to cope with between 65 and 70 million passengers before any large scale transition can take place between Dubai International and Al Maktoum at Dubai World Central."

Griffiths also addressed the issue of technology and addressed the airport's customer-centric ideas.

"Most people think an efficient airport is one where you go through very quickly, with the minimum of fuss. Most customers thoughts on arriving at an airport is ‘how quickly can I get out of here', so we will be using new technology to make that experience as efficient as possible."

Griffiths' continued: "One thing I have never understood in this industry is why we have a process called check-in. In what other industry, when you have paid for the goods you have wanted to buy, do you then have to reconfirm, yes I actually do want to use these goods. So we want to eliminate the check-in process and make much of that a part of the transaction when you buy your ticket in the first place."

The session also included a speech from Andreas Schimm, director of economics and programme development at Airports Council International (ACI).

"There is hardly a more appropriate venue for an airport's conference than Dubai," Schimm said. "The airports in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be expected to handle over 200 million passengers in 2020, climbing to overall traffic volumes similar to those of much larger countries like Brazil, Canada or Italy."

"Abu Dhabi International Airport is seeing current growth rates of over 30% per year and will top 10 million passengers in 2010. The ultimate capacity of the new airport will reach 50 million passengers."

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