Dubai overtakes Heathrow as top international airport

[Halimi]

Testament to the vision of Dubai's rulers and the extent of Dubai's economic diversification. I think oil only constitutes around 5% of its GDP.

A model for the GCC to learn from (which I think it generally has) and to emulate in some aspects.

 

[al-Hasani]

I'm not surprised. Heathrow is an abomination.

Why do you say so? Do you prefer Gatwick, lol?

Testament to the vision of Dubai's rulers and the extent of Dubai's economic diversification. I think oil only constitutes around 5% of its GDP.

A model for the GCC to learn from (which I think it generally has) and to emulate in some aspects.

True. The GCC alone has a 2 trillion dollars GDP (nominal) economy. Imagine where the GCC will be the day diversification gains a real foothold and some of the retarded laws in KSA are gone etc?
As you say then the UAE has shown the way although they can do much better too. The UAE and the GCC should not look towards the Muslim world in order to improve but the West. In terms of stability, economic wealth etc. they have more in common with the West than your average Muslim country.

The aviation sector is already a huge thing in the GCC as this thread clearly shows. Further growth and a even bigger competition is needed. There is no room for relaxation. Evident of all the new airport expansions and new airports that are being constructed. That's how it should be. Competition and improvement.

It would be a crime not to use the strategic location between Asia, Africa and Europe as an advantage which frankly has been done by most GCC states. KSA is now doing the same slowly but steadily.

 

[Al Bhatti]

March 02, 2015

Crowded skies: UAE to be busiest air corridor in world by 2020
Capa says 170m passengers to pass through UAE airports over the next 5 years

The UAE aviation sector will witness strong growth over the next five years as passenger traffic is poised to jump by nearly 70 per cent, making UAE the biggest aviation hub in the world.

According to a forecast by aviation think-tank Capa, UAE passenger traffic is expected to jump from over 101 million in 2014 to 160-170 million per annum by 2020, making the UAE the world’s busiest airport system.

Thanks to strong expansion of the local carriers Emirates, Flydubai, Air Arabia and Etihad Airways, UAE airports have been expanding their capacities to accommodate the growing inflow of passengers.

Dubai International handled record 70.5 million passengers last year, becoming the largest airport by international passengers worldwide.

It expects to reach 79 million this year.

Capa reckons that Dubai’s two airports – Dubai International and Al Maktoum International Airport – will handle between 98.5 million to 103.5 million passengers by 2020.

As an aviation hub, Dubai has already surpassed some traditional hubs like Amsterdam, Singapore or Hong Kong and us set to rival the largest international markets such as Tokyo, London, New York and Paris which handle more than 100 million passengers or more per year across multiple airports.

The two airports are also expected to overtake Atlanta and Beijing by 2020, making it the biggest aviation hub in the world.

According to ACI World figures for 2013, London was the world’s largest airport system by passenger traffic, handling 139.7m passengers followed by New York (112.16m) and Tokyo (104.6m).

Dubai Airports CEO Richard Griffiths recently said Dubai Airports will start to approach its natural passenger capacity limits as traffic exceeds 90 million passengers per annum.

The emirate is investing $32 billion (Dh117.44 billion) in the second stage developments of its Al Maktoum International Airport and the related Dubai World Central aerotropolis projects.

Dubai was followed by Abu Dhabi with just under 20 million passengers passing through the airport last year.

Capa sees Abu Dhabi passenger traffic to grow at the fastest pace compared to other airports in the UAE, expanding 50 per cent over the next three years to reach 30 million per annum by 2017 and 40 million by 2020.

Sharjah also rode high on the back of low-cost carrier Air Arabia, receiving 9.5 million in 2014 – an increase of over 12 per cent year-on-year.

These numbers, according to Capa, are expected to reach 16 million by 2020 and 25 million per annum within 20 years – thanks fast growing Air Arabia, opening a new runway, taxiway and air traffic control facility which are enough to handle its needs for the next 15 years.

Crowded skies: UAE to be busiest air corridor in world by 2020 - Emirates 24|7