Via Dubai Magazine | July 2013 by Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management

Monthly Newsletter Issued by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

www.viadubaionline.com

Volume 1 Issue 2 July 2013

Inside DCAA

DCAA attends ICAO meeting in Canada

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed launches Via Dubai

DCAA at Airport Show-2013

UAE in Focus Dubai targets 20 million tourists by 2020

Airport Show-2013 seals the deal

Emirates - A silver jubilee of profits

Emirates conditions for Boeing 777X deal

DIA runway closure for enhancement

DIA posts double-digit growth

flydubai to order 50 aircraft

‘Women in Aviation’ UAE chapter soon

20 seconds to clear immigration

Dubai expands Smart Gates

Dubai Airports wins HR awards

In Focus The Gate to Automated Air Travel

DCAA Strategy Plan 2013-2015

Shaping Tomorrow’s Aviation The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has unveiled, exclusively to Via Dubai, its Strategy Plan for 2013-2015, developed as per the directives of Dubai Executive Council and approved by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of DCAA and Chairman of Dubai Airports. The

‘boundless’ suuport to the growth of aviation industry, in addition to supporting Dubai’s competitiveness level. The plan will ensure that aviation infrastructure remains efficient and effective for long-term benefits to Dubai. 4&5

Interviews Airspace enhancement to end bottlenecks

Enhance passenger experience at airports

Green reality for aviation in the UAE

Airports must be equipped to service new aircraft

Saif Al Suwaidi

Hussein Dabbas

Dr. Khaled Almazroui

Juergen Strommer

Opinion Aviation as growth catalyst for economy

strategy’s five pillars - Capacity, Capabilities, Customer, Sustainability and Growth reflects Dubai’s ambition of building a sustainable future for the aviation sector and enhancing its contribution to the GDP to 32 per cent by 2020. The ambitious all-compassing roadmap will provide

Environment

Paul Steele

Success of Green Airport concept in the UAE

Time ripe for airspace capacity improvement

Technology

Nils Olof Svan

Georges Hannouche

Cargo & Logistics

Airport & airline collaboration is key to success

Flashback

Daniyal Qureshi

June 2013

Message from the President In 2007, the functions of the Department of Civil Aviation were restructured. Accordingly, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) was established as a regulatory body, by a decree of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Ruler of Dubai, on proclamation of law No. 21 of 2007, as amended by law No. 19 of 2010, to undertake development of Air Transport Industry in the Emirate of Dubai and to oversee all aviation-related activities.

Via Dubai is the official bilingual monthly newsletter of DCAA, designed to highlight the initiatives and developments in the aviation industry and act as a knowledge-sharing platform for all the stakeholders and aviation professionals.

General Supervision

Strategy for a better future

Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

Coordinator

Hanan Al Mazimi

Executive Editor

Mohammed Abdul Mannan

Creative Manager

Mohamad Abdulrahman

E-mail: viadubai@naddalshiba.com

Legal Disclaimer The views expressed in the articles are of the writers and not necessarily belong to DCAA. We take all reasonable steps to keep the information current and accurate, but errors can occur. The information is therefore provided as is, with no guarantee of accuracy, completeness or timeliness. The DCAA or Via Dubai does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the quality, accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Via Dubai does not endorse or recommend any article, product, service or information mentioned in the newsletter. Any perceived slight of any person or organisation is completely unintentional.

PR, Marketing & Communications Nadd AlShiba PR and Event Management

Tel +971 4 25 66 707 Fax +971 4 25 66 704 info@naddalshiba.com www.naddalshiba.com

Under the theme of Shaping Tomorrow’s Aviation, we are announcing for the first time the strategy plan of the DCAA for the 2013-2015 period. The aim is to orient the path of the aviation sector and to strengthen the role of Dubai, making it the most active aviation hub in the world. This strategy, developed as per the instructions of the Dubai Executive Council, has come at a perfect time, keeping pace with the growth achieved by the aviation sector in the emirate. Being made public through Via Dubai, the strategy is based on five pillars that reflect our ambition of building a sustainable future for this vital sector, which is projected to make up more than 30 per cent of Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the coming years. We are taking care to provide the aviation industry in Dubai with all the ingredients of success, going ahead with our strategy and pursuing our goals, while simultaneously establishing the best practices of safety, security and service for the passengers. The success achieved by Dubai International Airport since the beginning of the current year,

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum its double-digit growth rate and its passenger traffic of 21.9 million in the first four months, proves our point and confirms the necessity of such a strategy, devised by DCAA. By 2015, it is expected that the passenger traffic through Dubai International will go up to 75 million. This figure will help Dubai top the list of the busiest and biggest airports in the world in terms of international passenger capacity, overtaking London Heathrow. Our distinctive successes are not the result of chance; they are the realisation of the prudent vision of our wise leadership, well thought-out investment in state-of-the-art infrastructure, the best use of modern technologies and, finally, facing challenges and seeing them as opportunities that must be seized to fulfill our ambitions. We cannot forget the dedicated and concerted efforts made by all employees in the aviation sector – these people are considered the main strategic partners in this journey of success. Accordingly, we call upon them to continue their steadfast efforts in the interest of the aviation industry, not only in Dubai, but all over the world.

Printed by Printwell Dubai

Our Vision Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is driven by the vision of Dubai to become the global Aviation Capital contributing to prosperity and enabling growth for Dubai.

Our Mission Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is committed to support the aviation sector in:

E-mail: dcaa@dcaa.gov.ae Website: www.dcaa.gov.ae Tel: (971) 4 216 2009 Fax: (971) 4 224 4502 P.O.BOX 49888 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

u Capturing the full value potential as a global passenger, tourism, trade, cargo and logistic hub u Providing the capacity, connectivity and leveraging existing assets to meet the aviation sector and economic growth plans of Dubai u Ensuring sustainable and responsible growth committed to safety, health, environment and security u Providing and creating customer-focused services to gain competitive advantage from innovation, knowledge and efficiency u Building and retaining capabilities, for the aviation sector, while offering career opportunities for Nationals u Ensuring a transparent, effective and commercially balanced regulatory framework that reflects the interests of the aviation industry, Dubai and the UAE u Providing efficient and cost-effective services to the aviation sector

facebook.com/pages/Dubai-Civil-Aviation-Authority/299170846763911

twitter.com/DcaaDubai

youtube.com/user/dcaadubai

June 2013

Inside DCAA

Message

from the Director General

Global regulatory framework debated DCAA participates in ICAO meet

Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

A winning strategy A vital element of Dubai’s success story has been its ability to think and plan ahead of time for future challenges. By 2020, aviation’s contribution will be equivalent to 32 per cent of Dubai’s GDP, up from the present 28 per cent. The past decade has been a period of intense change during which, Dubai International climbed up the global rankings at an amazing pace, resting for the present at the slot of world’s second busiest airport for international passengers. It is projected to take top position in 2015. The Dubai aviation industry’s KPIs are simply mindboggling and the fruits of our strategic planning, longterm commitment and unfaltering dedication to meet the collective aspirations and ambitions of the world’s most dynamic and vibrant aviation market. History shows that we have never rested on our past achievements and have always worked to remain ahead of the competition. Our visionary leader, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, wants to optimise the aviation sector’s role in order to ensure greater benefits for all economic sectors.

he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in the 6th World-Wide Air Transport Conference (ATConf-6) held in Montreal, Canada, recently. Titled Sustainability of Airports, the global gathering was organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), to develop guidelines and an action plan for a global regulatory framework. The UAE presented three working papers titled, Views of Arab States on Fair Competition (presented by the UAE on behalf of Group of Arab States), Views on Advancing ICAO’s Work on Air Transport Liberalisation and Potential for Developing a Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalisation of International Air Transport. Dubai was represented by Saood Kankazar, Director, International Air Transport and International Affairs at DCAA, Rathnaweera Nawinne, Legal Advisor (Aviation) and Acting Head, International Affairs, Mattar Al Ketbi, International Affairs Officer, Ahmad Al Khamis, Manager, International Affairs, Emirates Airline and Claus Basse, Manager, Industry Affairs, Emirates Airline.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed launches DCAA’s exclusive newsletter

is Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Chairman of Dubai Airports, released ‘Via Dubai’, DCAA’s monthly bilingual newsletter, after opening the 13th Airport Show on May 6. Sheikh Ahmed presented a signed copy to DCAA Director General, Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, to officially launch the latest knowledge-sharing newsletter for the industry. Sheikh Ahmed said: “I am proud that this knowledge-

sharing initiative will help in creating better understanding and networking for industry stakeholders, and is an ideal tool to share our expansion programmes, plans and goals.” Mohammed Ahli said: “Via Dubai’ will be an influential marketing tool for the industry and will help in highlighting future strategies of aviation in Dubai and DCAA initiatives.” The newsletter is distributed among aviation industry professionals, experts and thoughtleaders. The web edition is available at www.viadubaionline.com

DCAA at Airport Show-2013

Sheikh Ahmed with the Emirati staff at the DCAA stand

We’re taking a combined and comprehensive approach to ensure that our airports and aviation infrastructure remain efficient and effective for the long-term benefit of Dubai and its stakeholders. The key to our success has been our coordinated and supportive approach to aviation. We will continue to do so for Now, Tomorrow and the Future. ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin (R) receiving a book titled ‘75 Years of Open Skies in Dubai’ from Saood Kankazar

Sheikh Ahmed signs the first issue presented to him by Mohammed Ahli

DCAA staff pays tributes to Buty

Matters relating to the Global Overview of Trends and Developments, Market Access, Ownership and Control of Airlines, Consumer Protection, Fair Competition, Safeguards, Taxation and Other Levies on International Air Transport, Economics of Airports and Air Navigation Services and Implication of ICAO policies and guidelines were discussed.

Towards the end of taking a big leap in our long journey, we have worked on the 2013-2015 aviation strategy plan. We have identified five strategic pillars towards achieving the vision of Dubai becoming the global aviation centre. Extensive details have been revealed in our cover story.

After all, the future belongs to those who work for it. We aim to see a greater movement of people across the world, via Dubai.

In flight and on board with Via Dubai

he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in the 13th Airport Show in Dubai from May 6 to 8, utilising the aviation industry’s iconic B2B event to highlight its various initiatives and programmes and enhance networking with industry professionals from within the UAE and overseas. H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of DCAA and Chairman of Dubai Airports, officially opened the spacious DCAA Stand at the Dubai Interna-

tional Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), in the presence of key government officials and aviation industry decision-makers. He called upon the DCAA staff members to make use of the annual event to reach out to the aviation industry professionals to create better awareness about the role and programmes of DCAA. The location of the DCAA Stand, at the entrance of exhibition hall, proved beneficial in maximising its presence.

he management and employees of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) have deeply mourned the sudden demise of Buty Ahmed bin Solaiman, Director of International and Government Affairs. Mohammed Ahli, Director General of DCAA, led the Emirati and expatriate staff in sending their heartfelt personal condolences to the family, while friends and colleagues recalled their fond memories about Buty Ahmed who had joined the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) as a Graduate Trainee in 1998. Mohammed Ahli said Buty Ahmed was one of the authority’s most capable and energetic team leaders whose passion for work and his personal dedication to civil aviation sector will remain etched in our memories. Born in January 1974, Buty did his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from the Metropolitan State College of Denver, USA, in 1997 and joined the Department of Civil Aviation in November 1998. In 2000, he became the Operations Manager and six years

later was promoted and designated as the Senior General Manager of Operation Services. He had served as the Director of International and Government Affairs since 2008. The Emirati was involved with several initiatives for the growth and expansion of the air transport industry, including the crucial restructuring of DCA in April 2007, resulting in the creation of DCAA, and the magnificent transformation of Dubai International Airport. He represented the DCAA in a number of crucial government and industry forums locally and internationally. His untimely death is a big loss to the aviation industry and DCAA.

June 2013

Inside DCAA

Via Dubai Exclusive

H. H. Sheikh Ahmed launches DCAA Strategic Plan 2013-2015 Dubai aviation on runway to next phase of growth

he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), has unveiled an all-encompassing strategy plan to steer the next stage of development for the fast-growing civil aviation sector in Dubai. Titled ‘Shaping Tomorrow’s Aviation(2013-2015)’,the fullcycle strategic plan has been endorsed and approved by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of DCAA and Chairman of Dubai Airports. The DCAA Director General, Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, said the strategy was formed based on the Dubai Strategy that was set as a strategic framework for Dubai government entities. It reflects the directions of the Dubai Aviation Sector Strategy (DASS), the formulation of which DCAA had coordinated in 2011, on directives of the His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. A handbook on the new strategy plan will be published in English and Arabic by July to create awareness among aviation industry professionals. A stakeholders’ conference will be held in October for debate on the plan and to get feedback, which will then be reviewed for inclusion as the implementation progresses. The DCAA Strategy covers five main pillars that influence the outcome of the aviation sector: Growth, Capacity, Sustainability, Customer and Capability. Sheikh Ahmed, in his foreword, says: “The aviation industry in the emirate of Dubai has witnessed a steady growth in the past years and it continues its stride, competing with

the world’s renowned aviation cities to acquire the highest share of passenger and air traffic. “Besides the growth of the industry, we consider that it is our prime duty and responsibility to ensure implementing the highest standards of safety and security in all activities related to aviation.” Sheikh Ahmed adds: “The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Strategy (2013-2015) is an ambitious roadmap that will drive and support the growth of the aviation industry in the emirate of Dubai, aligned with the Dubai Government strategy

Sheikh Ahmed honours the Corporate Planning Team

Direction

Plan

Implementation

The Dubai Aviation Sector Strategy follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council

A handbook on the new strategy plan will be published in English and Arabic by July to create awareness among aviation industry professionals

A stakeholders’ conference will be held in October to debate the plan and get feedback, which will then be reviewed for inclusion as the implementation progresses

and other key stakeholders and players in the industry. “Adopting innovative and creative practices in executing the strategy is the key to success through which the contribution to the GDP of Dubai, competitiveness of Dubai aviation industry and optimal alignment and integration amongst the other stakeholders could be achieved.” Mohammed Ahli said the DCAA was committed to providing “boundless support” to the growth of the aviation industry in Dubai, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security in the avia-

tion industry through adhering to the Standards and Recommended Practices adopted by the ICAO and those issued under the federal legal and/or regulatory bodies. This, he said, reflects the vision of leadership of the UAE and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable development in various strategic sectors to ensure prosperity and sustainable growth. Mohammed Ahli remarked: “Our main focus is to support

Dubai’s competitiveness level and enhance the growth of passenger numbers and cargo at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.” He added: We want to facilitate the expansion of the designated airlines of the emirate of Dubai through securing aero political rights through multilateral and/or bilateral air service agreements or understandings with other states whilst encouraging airlines of those states to use airports in the emirate of Dubai.” The strategy plan also outlined measures and initiatives

for enhancing customer’s experience with innovative solutions and technology and increasing the excellence level of Dubai’s aviation services. Several initiatives and policies, he said, will be focused at improving the standards of aviation safety, security and the environmental impact resulting from the aviation activities through promulgating the Dubai Civil Aviation Policies (DCAPs). He added that the air transport industry’s regulatory body was committed to building the required capacity of a specialised workforce in the aviation sector whilst focusing on recruiting and developing UAE nationals to lead and handle key positions in the aviation sector. The strategy plan said the aviation sector supported 259,000 jobs and helped generate over $11.7 billion in 2011, both directly and indirectly, through support for the tourism and other industries. The aviation sector employs more than five percent of the ‘waged workforce’ in Dubai, the plan stated.

Performance Champions

n an exclusive interview with Via Dubai, Hani Abu El Soud, Head of Strategy and Organisational Excellence Office at DCAA, said the strategy plan provides the framework for further development of the civil aviation sector. The Corporate Planning Team, led by Muna Al NuaimiDCAA’s Performance Specialist and comprising of members from all the DCAA departments, worked on preparing the strategy plan and overseeing its smooth implementation. In order to encourage and inspire DCAA employees, a reward system named, Fursaan Al Ada’aa, (Performance Champions) has been devised as an incentive to encourage departments to work as one team to achieve high performance, with excellence and high quality standards. This will ensure alignment of strategy, thus successfully achieving the corpo-

Concourse D will help Dubai meet huge demands of the aviation industry

rate-level goals and objectives. The DCAA benchmarked the 2013-2015 Strategy Plan with other destinations and completed it in line with the regulations and policies of ICAO. El Soud said a series of sessions were conducted with all the departments to determine the corporate strategic goals, objectives, and key perfor-

mance indicators (KPIs). The DCAA Board of Directors approved them and assigned the KPI targets for the upcoming three years. The corporate planning team then developed departmental objectives cascading each department contribution to the corporate objectives, and the necessary business plans for the next three years.

pillars of growth - key highlights capabilities

customer

sustainability

growth

target

Passenger Aircrafts Movement - 355,000 (2013), 385,000 (2014) and 416,650 (2015)

Employees satisfaction per DGEP and per DCAA - 80 % (2013), 82 % (2014) and 84% (2015)

Cargo Aircrafts Movement – 28250 (2013), 31,500 (2014) and 35,000 (2015)

Percentage of Employees trained at least three man-day’s per year – 50 (2013), 55 (2014) and 60 (2015)

Percentage of customer satisfaction level (DGEP and DCAA) – 80 (2013), 85 (2014) and 90 (2015)

% recommended and adopted regulations as per ICAO requirement – 95 % for each year (2013-2015)

Actual revenues/ actual employees cost (AED millions) – 8.44 (2013), 8.29 (2014) and 8.14 (2015)

New scheduled airlines in DIA: 12 (2013), 15 (2014) and 18 (2015)

Community satisfaction – 75 % (2013), 80 % (2014) and 85 % (2015)

Actual operational expenses/ budgeted operation expenses (%) – 96 % for each year (2013-2015)

capacity target

New Destinations – 20 (2013), 22 (2014) and 24 (2015) Annual increase in frequency of scheduled flights in and out of Dubai - 0.5 % for each year (20132015)

Percentage increase of specialised UAE Nationals per total employees in DCAA – 2 per cent each year – 2013 to 2015

Availability of ITC systems in DCAA - 98.5 % for each year – 2013-2015 Used facilities for training and meetings per total available area – 10 % (2013), 10 % (2014) and 20 % (2015)

Reduction of total serious events involving Air Traffic Services per 100,000 aircraft movements – one per cent each year (20132015

New initiatives to support promoting passengers stay in Dubai – 1 (2014) and 2 (2015)

June 2013

UAE in Focus

UAE In Focus

Dubai targets 20 million tourists by 2020 T

he United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out on the world map for its spectacular transformation as a yearround business and leisure tourism destination. Tourism has remained a strong pillar of economic growth for the Arab world’s second biggest economy, but despite these tremendous achievements, it appears the success story is yet to begin. Especially when one considers the massive investments planned in this sector. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “The UAE attaches great importance to the travel and tourism business which is an integral part of the country’s strategy to build a sustainable economy.” The UAE’s travel and tourism business has been built by focusing on high standards, which is why the country enjoys a high reputation regionally and internationally. This vital sector not only shapes the country’s economy but also provides us boundless opportunities in new markets

Key Highlights • • •

Tourism sector contributed 14 per cent to the UAE’s economy in 2012 The UAE hospitality market is likely to reach US$7.5 billion by 2016 Plans to treble tourismcontribution to economy

• UAE rejoins UNWTO after 26 years

•

Tourism industry investment hit US$22.5 billion in 2012

and strengthens our trade links with the outside world, he added. The 2013 edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the iconic travel and tourism show that Dubai has been hosting for years, was occasion to reflect on the admirable status of the UAE in general and Dubai in particular on the world tourism map and what is in the pipeline to consolidate the hard-earned success. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, accompanied by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, officially inaugurated the ATM 2013. This year’s sell-out edition took place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. During a tour of ATM, held from May 6 to 9, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed said: “Tourism and culture are two faces of one coin... culture represents one of the key pillars of tourism in any country. When the tourist first sets his foot in a country, the most things he eagerly wants to know is its heritage, culture, history and its archaeological landmarks from museums, arts, folklore and cuisine. “This is what makes us adhere to our culture and cultural identity to preserve and promote their authenticity and assets within the UAE and abroad.”

Vision 2020

Dubai took the world by surprise by making public its new tourism vision for 2020. Dubai will welcome 20 million visitors a year by 2020, doubling its annual visitor numbers from 10 million in 2012, and trebling the annual

Global interest in Dubai and its tourism industry remains strong

contribution made by tourism to the emirate’s economy. Dubai has managed to double the number of tourists from only five million yearly to 10 million tourists a year during the past eight years. The UAE’s decision to rejoin the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) after a gap of 26 years, will also go a long way in the country’s ambitious bid to host the Expo 2020, the world’s largest cultural, economic and tourist event. UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, said: “The Middle East is one of the fastestgrowing tourism regions in the world in spite of facing countless challenges; much of this dynamism has been led by the strong political commitment awarded to tourism in the region and the vision that tourism is a key pillar of development in the Middle East of which the UAE is a perfect example.” He added: “The UAE plays a central role not only in the development of tourism in the region, but also in linking the Middle East with other regions and we expect that by working together we will enhance tour-

ism within, and to the Emirates, as well as increase regional cooperation.”

The Forecasts

The World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Economic Impact 2013 study painted a positive forecast. “The regional tourism map is now incredibly diverse with travel and tourism directly contributing US$76.6 billion to GDP in 2013, which is forecast to rise by 4.2 per cent this year alone as ongoing investment into the sector and infrastructure development in key markets supports the dual long term goals of driving visitor numbers and moving towards sustainable economic diversification.” The UAE has long been a role model for regional tourism development and recently released figures from the WTTC show that tourism in the Emirates is growing significantly faster than the world GDP growth average, contributing an impressive 14 per cent to the UAE economy in 2012 — compared to the global trend of nine per cent — and expected to rise by 3.2 per cent in 2013.” The tourism

industry investment, which hit US$22.5 billion last year, is also set to increase in 2013, by an estimated 12 per cent, as the country fully embraces the social and economic benefits of tourism, maximising the ongoing expansion of its airline route networks and a healthy economic outlook. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013, issued by the World Economic Forum, accorded high marks to the UAE by virtue of it securing the best ranking. The UAE has advanced by six notches to secure global ranking No. 27 amongst 140 nations ranked in the report. The UAE’s hospitality market is likely to reach US$7.5billion by 2016, up from US$4.5 billion (67 per cent increase) in 2011. A Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry study, supported by statistics published by Business Monitor International, has put the UAE tourism sector’s growth at 6.5 per cent per annum, between 20112021, with visitors from the Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific the key source markets. According to the GCC Hospitality Industry Report 2012 by Alpen Capital, the hospitality market in the UAE is forecast to grow at an average rate of 8.1 per cent in the next four years, to US$28.3 billion.

The ATM effect

There were several destinations from near and far that utilised ATM 2013, the world’s third biggest travel and tourism trade show to showcase their successes. ATM aims to unlock business potential within the Middle East for both inbound and outbound tourism. Experts, officials and thought leaders shared their voices with participants about the latest market developments and futuristic travel trends, while several organisations unveiled their expansion plans at the show. In 2012, the tourism sector contributed 14 per cent to the UAE economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum touring the ATM 2013

Realising Dubai’s ambition D

ubai took the world by surprise by making public its new tourism vision for 2020. Dubai will welcome 20 million visitors a year by 2020, doubling its annual visitor numbers from 10 million in 2012, and trebling the annual contribution made by tourism to the emirate’s economy. A new hotel classification system for Dubai’s hospitality sector was also unveiled. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who launched the Vision 2020, said: “We are aware that such goals are ambitious, but more important than ambition is realising these goals in reality. I am confident that the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing

(DTCM) is capable of achieving what it aims for, given the previous accomplishments and the positive results attained.” He said he firmly believes in Dubai’s ability to reach a substantial tourist influx in light of the fact that Dubai will “shortly witness the implementation of wide new range of projects representing new elements of attraction”. Helal Saeed Almarri, DTCM Director General and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre, said new tourism projects are expected to drive Dubai’s tourism vision for 2020. At present there are 80,000 rooms across Dubai’s 599 hotels and hotel apartments. “If we get the Expo, we need double the number of rooms,” he said. In terms of revenue, Dubai hotels and hotel apartments ac-

Key Highlights •

Promoting Dubai as a global events and entertainment destination

•

Position the UAE as the world’s leading family destination

•

There are 80,000 rooms across Dubai’s 599 hotels and hotel apartments

• To enhance Dubai’s status as a business destination

• To make sure that Dubai is

the easiest and most effective place to do business

crued revenue of AED18.85 billion, 17.9 per cent growth over 2011.

June 2013

UAE In Focus

June 2013

UAE in Focus

BIGGER, BETTER, BUSIER

Airport Show seals the deal 50% of exhibitors book space for 2014

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Matkoum, President of DCAA and Chairman of Dubai Airports

n an industry where tomorrow is almost always already here, the 13th Airport Show in Dubai showcased not only the future of airports, but had close to 50 per cent of exhibitors already book their space for the 2014 edition of the expo. It was one of many markers that the 13th edition of the Airport Show lay down to underline its reputation as the premier airport show for the Middle East and North Africa (MENASA) region. Another premiere event at the show, held from May 6 to 8, was the inaugural Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF), where industry-defining views were shared by aviation experts and thought-leaders. Exhibitors pursued deals and business procurements from regional airports worth $20 billion. The Airport Show2013 took place on a space of over 11,000 square metres and attracted 220 exhibitors from 35 countries - of which 50 were UAE-based companies, who brought in international partners on their stands.

Key Highlights • Airline Travel Catering added to 2014 show’s profile • 220 exhibitors from 35 countries • The Middle East region to handle 400 million passengers by 2020

Sheikh Ahmed talking to exhibitors at one of the stands at the Airport Show

The show’s 60 Hosted Buyers came from 12 countries - Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Tunisia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq and India, and also featured six country pavilions. A number of exhibitors reported high volume deals, while many others said that they got a good number of business leads. The Airport Passenger Experience (APE), a terminalformat zone featuring futuristic technologies and solutions for airport operations and meeting the fast-changing demands of travellers was an instant hit, with visitors getting the opportunity to explore the way the travel industry would change in the coming years. As many as 23 companies

from various parts of the world showcased their trend-setting technology portfolios to hundreds of visitors who made it to the Sheikh Rashid Hall at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibitions Centre (DICEC) for the show. With over 35 experts and thought-leaders from airports, airlines and other organisations sharing their insights into industry issues and travel trends, GALF emerged as an ideal platform for the exchange of expertise and learning about the mind-set and needs of airport passengers and travelers in the future. Daniyal Qureshi, Event Director, Airport Show, organised by Reed Exhibitions, said: “The resounding success of the 13th Airport Show has

“The show mirrors the aviation industry’s robust growth and the region’s economic resilience. The forum enabled decision makers to share industry updates, as well as identify future challenges.”

proved beyond doubt that the B2B event has consolidated its position. “We are delighted that half of this year’s exhibitors have made bookings for the next year’s show. We are confident that the exhibitors will benefit from their continued participation in the show next year in terms of market impact and securing business from the region’s airports. “We are hopeful of further catching up with the expectations of the market at the 2014 edition with more exhibitors and hosted buyers.” An investment of $90 billion is projected to go into the aviation industry in the Middle East by the year 2020. The Middle East region is projected to handle 400 million air passengers by 2020,

including 98 million by Dubai. Daniyal Qureshi explained the good response to the show: “We feel there is a positive sentiment across the aviation industry since several airport developments have been announced in the region in the past 18 months. Mega-projects that had slowed down are picking up pace again. International suppliers are looking to the region, so massive airport upgrades are necessary to meet the fleet and aircraft upgrades.” A new report from Amadeus Air Traffic Travel Intelligence solution reveals that the Middle East’s three key airports - Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi - are all experiencing strong overall air traffic growth of around 10 per cent per annum, with very high levels of con-

“It was a good opportunity for the DCAA team to see such a wide variety of latest technology showcased by world leaders in providing airport technologies and solutions. It will benefit the industry in overall terms.”

“The UAE and GCC’s aviation industry took advantage of the show’s depth in terms of participation from aviation suppliers and manufacturers worldwide to identify and adopt the best of what the industry has to offer.”

“The continual growth of Dubai Airport has been fundamental to the success of Dubai’s tourism industry. Dubai was a natural location for the hosting of the premier airport show.”

Mohammed Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, DTCM and CEO of DWTC

necting traffic. Dubai International Airport is the fastest growing airport in the world, as measured by annual seat capacity growth, according to OAG, the market leader in aviation intelligence. The Middle Eastern hub has been increasing capacity by an average of 12 per cent per year since 2004.

spending on aviation security is expected to increase sharply to meet the demand for new technology systems. The state-of-the-art baggage scanner machine used

(Digital Signage Team), LG Electronics, said the company has received tremendous response from visitors from the Middle East and Africa region.

Show stealer

A report by Frost & Sullivan said US$86 billion will be spent by Middle East airports in expansion plans until the year 2025. Global spending on Aviation security was estimated to be about US$22.3 billion in 2012, according to the Aviation Security Market Report 2012-2022. In the longer term, Middle East Paul Griffiths, CEO Dubai Airports (middle) addressing a GALF panel discussion

Airport Show 2013 attracted visitors from across the world

by the custom officials was a rage at the show. Showcased by IO Systems Ltd, Ireland, the scanner also won approval from airport authorities in the region. Dubai Airport placed an order for 116 machines, with a total value of AED68 million, said Stephen McSorley, Systems Engineering Manager, IO Systems Ltd, Ireland. So far, 40 scanners have been installed at the airport and rest of the machines will be installed by the end of 2013. Marcelle Bou Malhab, Business Development Manager

Airline Travel Catering

Reed Exhibition Middle East, organisers of Airport Show, announced that it has been awarded the Airline Travel Catering profile and will be co-locating the event with next year’s Airport Show. The Airline Travel Catering Show will be the only event in the Middle East region focusing on the travel catering industry, offering three days of unique business and networking opportunities, trailblazing a new path for a key part of the fast growing global aviation industry.

June 2013

UAE in Focus

A silver jubilee of profits

DIA runway rehab from May 2014 Some passenger flights will be diverted to DWC

New aircraft were added to the Emirates’ fleet in FY 2012-2013

Emirates posts AED3.1 billion net profit for the FY 2012-2013

he Emirates Group has announced its 25th consecutive year of profit and company-wide growth ending the year in a strong position despite continuing high fuel prices and a weak global economic environment. The company posted an AED3.1 billion (US$845 million) net profit, up 34 per cent from last year. Even with external challenges, the group’s revenue reached AED77.5 bil-

Key Highlights • Group records $845 million net profit

• Largest capacity increase in airline’s history

• 34 new aircraft added in 2012-2013

• Emirates passes 39 million passenger milestone

• Staff count increased by 12 per cent to 68,000

• 10 new destinations

launched in 2012-13

• Total number of A380 destinations rise to 21

lion (US$21.1 billion), an increase of 17 per cent over last year’s results. The group’s cash balance grew by 53 per cent reaching a solid AED27.0 billion (US$7.3 billion). H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman of Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Achieving our 25th consecutive year of profit in a financial year with our largest ever increase in capacity across the network is an achievement that speaks to the strength of our brands and our leadership.” The group, throughout the 2012-13 financial year, has collectively invested over AED13.8 billion (US$3.8 billion) in new aircraft, products, services and handling facilities as well as the newlyopened JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai. Emirates continued with its growth plan and during the financial year saw the largest increase in capacity in the airline’s history receiving a staggering 34 new aircraft, the highest in any single year and

an unprecedented achievement. These aircraft were funded by raising more than US$7.8 billion, also a first, through a variety of financing structures. Overall capacity measured in Available Tonne Kilometres (ATKMs) increased by 5.5 billion tonne-kilometres. Emirates’ fuel bill increased by 15 per cent over last year to reach AED27.9 billion (US$7.6 billion). Emirates seat load factor over the last three years has been 80 per cent despite our increase in capacity by 44 per cent during the same period, showing the continued global demand for our product. In addition capacity measured in terms of Available Tonne Kilometres (ATKMs), which includes passenger and cargo capacity, crossed the 40 billion tonne-kilometres mark, another first for Emirates. Emirates raised more than AED28.6 billion (US$7.8 billion) in new funding mainly to secure its on-going fleet expansion, a record amount for the airline. Emirates revenue reached a record high of AED73.1 billion (US$19.9 billion) growing by 17 per cent when com-

EK to become world’s second largest airline Emirates Airline is on its way to becoming the world’s second largest in 2013. The airline was the world’s third-largest carrier in terms of available seat kilometres per week in 2012, according to research by Innovata. If it continues its 2012 growth rate of 18.4 per cent it could become the second-largest in 2013.

pared to the 2011-12 financial year. The 2012-13 financial year has been a strong one for Emirates SkyCargo who for the first time reported a revenue over AED10 billion reaching AED10.3 billion (US$2.8 billion) mark, an eight per cent increase over last year. Emirates’ Destination and Leisure Management including hotels saw revenue of AED460 million (US$125 million), an increase of 15 per cent over last year. With an increase of 15 per cent over last year, dnata grew its revenue to AED6.6 billion (US$1.8 billion).

ubai Airports will conduct an extensive runway enhancement project at Dubai International, the world’s second busiest hub for international passengers, during an 80day period commencing from May 1, 2014. To safeguard service levels while the work is taking place, scheduled passenger flights at its hub airport will be reduced and all freighter, charter and general aviation flights will be diverted to Dubai World Central (DWC). The northern runway is nearing the end of its design life and requires resurfacing and other modifications to accommodate future traffic. At the same time there is a requirement to upgrade runway lighting and construct new taxiways on the southern runway to boost capacity.

The runway rehabilitation project will involve the placement of 180,000 tonnes of asphalt on the northern runway, 65,000 tonnes of asphalt and 70,000 cubic metres of concrete on the southern runway and taxiways as well as the installation of 3,000 runway lights. Runway resurfacing is a common occurrence with airports around the world, however, as Dubai International offers airlines a 24/7 operation, runway closures are more complex and must be meticulously planned. Dubai Airports already closes each runway at Dubai International for five hours per week to conduct regular maintenance, but the size and scope of the programme will require each runway to be closed for extended periods of time.

Dubai International Airport runway enhancement will be done in 80 days

The southern runway will be closed from May 1 to May 31, 2014, while the northern runway will be out of operation from May 31 to July 20, 2014, as upgrades are implemented. “Safety and service are our two top priorities,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports. “While we re-

gret any inconvenience caused to our airline customers and our passengers, these upgrades are necessary.” Discussions are underway with airlines to reduce flight schedules during the 80-day period to protect service levels and optimise the capacity that is avail-

able at both airports. In addition to hosting all cargo, charter and general aviation operations, Dubai World Central, which opens its doors for passenger operations on October 27, will be an available alternative to absorb affected scheduled passenger flights.

Dubai International posts double-digit growth in April D

ubai International has registered nine straight months of double-digit growth according to the monthly traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports. April was the fifth consecutive month with more than five million passengers passing through Dubai International. The year-to-date traffic increased by 16.3 per cent to 21,905,363 compared to 18,828,279 recorded in the first four months of 2012. The world’s second busiest airport for international passenger traffic, Dubai International recorded 5,418,946 passengers in April, an increase of 18.7 per cent compared to 4,566,673

during the corresponding month in 2012. “It is very clear that our growth rate has picked up and that should continue at a similar pace into the next quarter and beyond. Given the central role aviation plays in a country’s GDP, this also bodes well for the increasingly robust local economy,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. The largest increase in total passenger numbers was recorded on the Western European routes (+207,120 passengers), followed by the AGCC (180,600), and the Indian subcontinent (+160,372). Middle Eastern routes that were affected by political instabil-

ity until the beginning of 2013 recorded moderate growth in April (+23,365). Aircraft movements at Dubai International increased by 6.9 per cent to 30,469 compared to 28,503 recorded in April 2012. Year-todate aircraft movements totalled 121,599, an increase of 6.2 per cent compared to 114,517 during the same period in 2012. During the month under review, freight volumes increased by 7.3 per cent to 199,985 tonnes compared to 186,385 tonnes in April 2012. The year-to-date cargo totalled 784,832 tonnes, up 11.5 per cent to 703,826 tonnes during the first four months last year.

21.9m Passengers during Jan-April

65m Passengers expected in 2013

June 2013

UAE in Focus

Emirates lays conditions for Boeing 777X deal The airline worked closely with Boeing on 777X design and launch

flydubai to order 50 aircraft to meet demand Deal likely to be signed at Dubai Airshow Ghaith Al Ghiath, CEO of flydubai, says the airline is adding 14 new destinations in 2013

Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline, says the fleet replacement cycle will have a big impact on orders

aving worked closely with Boeing on the design of 777X jets, Emirates Airline will not, however, enter any negotiations until certain conditions are met. Speaking at the recently concluded the Arabian Travel Market (ATM-2013) in Dubai, Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said that negotiations with Boeing on the 777X jets will start in the next couple of months depending on a number of factors like delivery and timeline.

“We will not enter into negotiations with Boeing till we are absolutely sure that it is going to be delivered to the specification that we called for, on the timeline that they say it will be, at the price that we want. But we are not in that position quite yet. If they fail on any of those, we don’t go anywhere,” he remarked. He said he can’t say how many aircraft EK was likely to place an order for, but indicated that they won’t be delivered until late 2020 or 2021.

Daily to Stockholm

mirates airline will begin daily Dubai-Stockholm flights from September 4. The service will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER with eight first class, 42 business class and 304 economy seats. It marks Emirates’ second Scandinavian destination after Copenhagen, launched two years ago, and will provide the only scheduled direct passenger service between Dubai and Sweden. Trade between the UAE and Sweden reached more than $896 million in 2012, an increase of 4.3 per cent on 2011. Emirates SkyCargo will offer 19 tonnes of cargo capacity between the two cities.

“What I would say is that we will have 175 777-ERs (extended range) by then. “And all those have got to be replaced. So the number will be determined by the fleet replacement cycle, the big Airbus A350 as an alternative, whether we can get more A380s — above the 90 that we will have by November 2017 etc. “But that also leaves a very large number of 777-ERs to be replaced. And we have worked very closely with them to get this one [777X] launched and

designed. So a lot of it is a result of what Emirates wants,” he added. About Emirates’ current fleet size and where it will reach by 2020, he said: “It’s around 200 aircraft at present. We know we have 240 aircraft planned to be in use by 2017 and that is an amount of incremental units and retirement of the old fleet. “We are in the process of getting through 68 of the old aircraft – they all have to be retired. So they will have been finally gone by then.”

fleet order book of 50 aircraft will keep flydubai, Dubai’s first budget airline launched in June 2009, on its planned trajectory of impressive growth in an industry battling economic uncertainty and high oil prices. flydubai’s fleet of 28 aircraft today operates to 52 destinations and six new aircraft from its 50 Boeing 737-800 order book will be delivered in 2013, enabling the rapid expansion of the network. flydubai is now holding talks with Boeing and Air-

bus for at least 50 aircraft, orders for which will be done possibly at the Dubai Airshow in November. Dubai’s first low-cost carrier presently flies to 57 cities with a fleet of 29 Boeing 737 aircraft delivered so far, out of the 50 on firm orders. “By 2015, this order will be exhausted when we will need additional aircraft — the way we are growing now. So, we need to make fresh orders for delivery beyond 2015,” Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, told the local media. “We are planning to place an order this

EK A380 service to Brisbane, Auckland

risbane is set to become Emirates’ third Australian destination to welcome the airline’s flagship Airbus A380 to Brisbane and Auckland route from October 1. Adding the A380 to one of Emirates’ two daily Brisbane services will see an increase in capacity of 135 seats for sale per flight and 1,890 week, reinforcing Emirates’ commitment to its Queensland and Auckland passengers. The double-daily service is currently operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Together with Qantas, from October a total of six daily A380 services will operate to Dubai, offering a seamless A380 experience through Dubai International Airport’s Concourse A. Concourse A is the world’s first purpose built A380 concourse, to 21 A380 serviced destinations on the network in-

cluding London Heathrow, Manchester, Paris and Rome. Emirates sets the pace for A380 deployment, with the aircraft having carried 14 million passengers on 35,000 trips spanning 200 million kilometres since A380 operations commenced five years ago. In 2012 alone, Emirates added 11 A380s to its fleet and is the largest operator of the aircraft, with 33 in the fleet and 57 on order. With more scheduled A380 flights in 2012 than any other hub (7,259 flights), Dubai International, the fastest growing airport in 2012. Dubai International Airport, the second busiest airport for international passenger traffic, can now claim the title for ‘World’s leading hub for A380 operations’.

flydubai’s current fleet consists of 28 latest aircraft

year for at least 50 aircraft,” he said, when asked whether they would be signing the deal at the Dubai Airshow in November. “We are currently talking to both Boeing and Airbus on this deal,” he added. Emirates and flydubai collectively operate 229 aircraft, making the emirate of Dubai the biggest airline hub in the Middle East and North Africa. flydubai is the second biggest airline to pull traffic to Dubai International airport after Emirates. The airline, which started commercial

flights in June 2009, became profitable last year. The airline is adding 14 new destinations this year. Since its launch four years ago, flydubai has launched 57 routes including up to 32 routes that either did not previously have direct links with Dubai or were not served by an UAE national carrier from Dubai. It now travels to 33 countries spanning North and East Africa, the GCC, Middle East, Subcontinent, Central Asia, Russia, Ukraine and Central and Eastern Europe.

June 2013

UAE in Focus

‘Women in Aviation’ chapter to turn new page for Emiratis

Travellers’ Dreams, UAE Reality

Smart gates engineered, developed and powered by emaratech

he UAE will soon add another feather to its aviation cap when it opens a chapter of Women in Aviation (WAI), the international not-for-profit organisation that supports and enables women in what is even today, considered a ‘male-dominated’ sector. For the Women in Aviation UAE (WIA-UAE), the final discussions and licenses formalities are in the process of coming through, according to Christiina Tervo and Mervat Sultan, cofounders of the WAI-UAE. The Airport Show-2013 hosted an exhibition titled ‘Women in Aviation’ put together by the WAI Germany chapter. H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, toured the exhibition and exchanged views with the women at the venue. Mariola Ziolkowski, President, WAI-Germany, hoped that it will go a long way in opening up new and challeng-

20 seconds to clear immigration

Sheikh Ahmed meets participants at the Women in Aviation exhibition

ing roles for the Emirati women in the aviation sector. Mervat Sultan, Finance Manager of her own company RamJet, an aviation support company, said the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) had verbally approved the constituting of the WAI UAE Chapter and hoped that things would be finalised

and the chapter ready to open its doors to like-minded women and men. Captain Aysha Al Hamili, the first Emirati female pilot, who is currently the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), admits that life was very daunting, the

minute she made up her mind to become a pilot. She pledges her support in whatever way she and her colleagues can. The aviation sector supports 224,000 jobs in the UAE, including 141,000 jobs directly and will provide more than 400,000 new jobs in various disciplines in the next 20 years.

IATA sets up GCC office in UAE T

Tony Tyler, IATA DG and CEO

he International Air Transport Association (IATA),the global body of airlines with 240 members in 118 countries, has opened an office in Abu Dhabi on June 1 to serve the Arabian Gulf region. The Montreal, Canadaheadquartered IATA has 66 offices in 60 countries with regional Offices in Amman, Beijing, Brussels, Johannesburg, Madrid, Miami, Moscow, Singapore and Washington. Together they will make available the full range of IATA services and member

benefits to airlines operating in the region. This includes managing the local operations of the IATA Industry Settlement Systems, the IATA Operational Safety Audit and supporting the flagship Simplifying the Business programme. The agreement formally establishes IATA’s presence in the GCC with an office covering activities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, in addition to the UAE. It supersedes an agreement with the Sharjah

Airport Authority, under which IATA’s first office in the UAE was established in 1996. “The agreement reflects the recognition by the government of the UAE of the importance that aviation plays in driving economic growth and development. Having formalised our position at the national level, I am confident that we will be able to provide the region with even more effective support for its impressive development,” said Tony Tyler, IATA Director General and CEO.

t is what air travellers have dreamed of – fast immigration clearance. Thanks to Smart Gates, the UAE will make this dream a reality. The new Smart Gates will facilitate registered travellers’ clearance formalities within 20 seconds.The Smart Gate will verify the traveller’s data and scans his eyes and face inside the gate to open the door for the traveler proceed to the baggage reclaim area without passing through a passport control officer. Travellers can register their data and biometrics (eye and facial scans) at various locations in Dubai International Airport terminals and locations in the city of Dubai. The locations will be announced soon to enable travelers register and use the smart Gate for free. The latest technology, already active in Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, was unveiled to thousands of visitors at the recent Airport Show held in Dubai in May.

LSA regulations

he General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced a regulation for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) in the UAE. The LSA is a growing general aviation sector offering aviation enthusiasts access to flight. In terms of geographical size, the UAE airspace is one of the busiest in the world. The regulation will be published into a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) that will remain open for 12 months allowing for comment.

UAE citizens and residents, GCC citizens and travelersfrom the pre-approved 32 countries to receive visas on arrival will be able to benefit from the smart gates, without any pre-requirements except an electronic passport. The Emirates ID and existing UAE e-Gate cards will be compatible with the smart gates. The system will have the ability to process three passengers per minute using Smart Gates at no cost on the traveler. The Smart Gate is also a pride Icon for the UAE as it has been engineered, developed and is powered by the leading Emarati company for technology; emaratech. 14 of the Smart Gates are already in use at Dubai International’s Terminal 3, with 14 more to be installed before end of 2013 summer. The rollout plan also includes Terminals 1 & 2 and Al-Maktoum International Airport, followed by plans to cover the rest of the UAE International Airports. Smart Gates are second-generation ‘electronic gates’ that

Smart Gates make passenger movement seamless

will be used in the UAE after the e-Gates, which required travellers to use a card to scan through immigration. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Af-

fairs (GDRFA) had previously announced plans for Smart Gates to be installed in all Dubai International terminals by 2014, expected to handle 75 million passengers annually.

DWC Business Park capacity to double D

ubai World Central (DWC) Business Park is planning to more than double its capacity by the end of 2013 which will take the total lease able area of up to 50,000 sq mts of leased area. DWC showcased its Business Park facilities at the aviation industry’s B2B show, The Airport Show-2013. DWC Business Park has been attracting medium to big sized companies looking for more space at the strategically-located free trade zone in Jebel Ali.

Paolo Serra, Director, DWC Business Park, said discussions were underway with a number of multi-national companies as well the UAE-based companies looking for more space with DWC Business Park as a preferred destination for operating businesses. He said that the businesses operating in the Business Park can leverage the state-of-theart infrastructure of DWC, the easy accessibility to Al Maktoum International airport and the proximity to main high-

ways. Companies can also benefit from key factors such as the free zone environment, 100 per cent foreign ownership, exemption from all types of taxes, variety of licensed activities and flexible commercial lease terms. It is the only provider which can offer larger leasable spaces on a single floor plan. A number of major players like DHL, Aramex and RSA Logistics have already made DWC as their hub.

June 2013

UAE In Focus

Dubai enhances passenger experience with Smart Gates

Brigadier Obaid Muheir bin Surour (second from left) being briefed by German officials

he massive growth the UAE has seen as a tourist and business destination has been met in leaps and bounds by technological advances to immigration and passport control systems, driven by the vision and directives of the country’s leaders. That was the message Brigadier Obaid Muheir bin Surour, Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), Dubai, took with him to Germany, where he delivered a lecture, as part of a GDRFA delegation’s international tour recently. With Dubai Airport sighting an increase to 100 million pas-

sengers by 2020, bin Surour informed a gathering at the General Command of the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) in Potsdam, near the German capital of Berlin, of the strategic shift witnessed by Dubai’s air, land and marine border agencies, to adopt electronic solutions to ease traffic flow coming into the UAE. “In the past years,” said bin Surour, “we faced major challenges created by the increase in the number of arrivals in Dubai. “However, we were up to these challenges and considered them an opportunity to move forward. We managed to prevail, thanks to the instructions and follow-up from Major

General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director General, GDRFA Dubai, as well as our firm belief in excellence and the importance of constantly upgrading our performance.” Accordingly, we increased the number of electronic gates at Dubai Airport from 10 to 100 within a few years. Moreover, we are currently commissioning smart gates that will contribute to a gigantic qualitative shift in managing the flow of passengers via passport checkpoints at Dubai Airport. They will be fully operational soon, he added. Bin Surour disclosed that Dubai Airport passport control

Dubai Airports wins MENA HR Excellence Awards had, in 2012, managed to stop more than 1,300 people who tried to enter the UAE with fake identification. This is due to the high level of experience that our passport officers have, and their ability to use state-of-the-art, highly advanced technologies in passport auditing, he said. Bin Surour also presented a detailed explanation of the Al Maktoum International Airport and its great potential, with an annual cargo capacity of 12 million tonnes and passenger capacity of 160 million. “We go forward speedily, with no stops, but also with no haste, to make use of all available opportunities and tackle all challenges,” he said. “For this goal, we implement the best electronic systems to facilitate the passage and entry of passengers through Dubai.” Simultaneously, we adopt the strictest security criteria to maintain the safety of the UAE. This entails giving intensive training courses to our passport officers and controllers to help them address the various challenges, he added. The estimated 65 million or more passengers in 2013 and 75 million in 2015 will make Dubai Airport the top airport in the world in terms of international passenger capacity. The delegation attended the 53rd meeting of IATA in Berlin to discuss immigration and airport security issues.

dnata acquires Italy’s Servair Airchef d

nata has announced the acquisition of the remaining 50 per cent of Servair Airchef in Italy, thereby taking over its total ownership. Servair Airchef has a presence in 23 airports including Rome, Milan and Venice. dnata’s subsidiary Alpha became a share-

holder of Servair Airchef in 2001. dnata is one of the world’s largest air services providers, offering ground and cargo handling, travel, technology solutions and in-flight catering. In-flight catering is one of dnata’s fastest growing business areas and acquisitions have

played a key role in the growth. Over the past two years, dnata has acquired stakes in three inflight catering companies. With a global catering presence in 64 airports, during the financial year 2011/12, dnata served over 50 million meals worldwide.

In the 53 years of dnata history, the financial year 201213 has been its most successful yet, coming on the back of very strong results in 2011-12. With an increase of 15 per cent over last year, dnata grew its revenue to AED6.6 billion (US$1.8 billion).

ubai Airports, operator of the world’s second busiest airport hub, has won the award for Best Employee Engagement at the 5th Annual GCC HR Excellence Awards 2011. The company’s Vice President of Learning & Development, Samya Ketait, was recognised as the HR Professional of the Year (public sector). The HR Excellence Awards recognise and reward individuals and organisations that have made outstanding and innovative contributions to the successful development of HR in the region. The Best Employee Engagement award honours an organisation for specifically focusing on engaging employees through activities related to CSR, teambuilding, training and development, and employee recognition among others. The HR Professional of the Year award is given to an employee who has played an important role in promoting

Dubai Airports officials displaying the awards

a people-centric culture, implementation of innovative programmes, engagement of employees in CSR activities and a focus on the overall well-being of staff. Jill Nealon, Senior VP of Human Resources and Development at Dubai Airports, said: “We are very pleased to have won the awards because they are given in recognition of ex-

Expo 2020 to bring job bonanza

report by Oxford Economics shows that Dubai Expo 2020 would support over 277,000 jobs. A total of 77,149 jobs would be created between 2013 and 2021, 40 per cent of which would be within the travel and tourism sector. The report estimates that 90 per cent of the projected 277,149 employment opportunities would occur from 2018 to 2021 with the ramp up to Expo 2020 and the demand generated by the 25 million expected visitors. Of the 90 per cent, 147,000 jobs would be created in the travel and tourism sector, indicating the significant potential to convert a high percentage into permanent jobs to serve the expanded economy in the post-Expo period. The report said for every Expo

employee approximately 60 additional jobs will be sustained across other parts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economy. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the UAE’s Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo, said: “Dubai Expo 2020 will leave a lasting legacy not only in the UAE but also beyond its borders.” As our theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ suggests, Dubai Expo 2020 aims to welcome the world to collaborate and build partnerships for sustainable development. In that, Dubai Expo 2020 will spur significant employment, trade and investment opportunities for the entire Menasa region, she added.

cellence in human resource development and management, which is universally recognised as being at the very core of any organisation’s success. That we won at both the organisation and individual categories is especially satisfying.” The awards event was hosted as part of the 8th Human Assets Expansion Middle East Summit held in Dubai from May 21 to 23.

Dubai’s BCI remains strong

usinesses in Dubai are confident of growth trends continuing to the second quarter of 2013, according to a survey conducted by Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED). The Business Confidence Index (BCI) stood at 113 points during the first quarter of 2013. The survey showed that 86 per cent of the businesses are upbeat on sales and profits. Overall business expectations are on an upward trend with 91 per cent of firms reporting either improvement or stability in business conditions in the second quarter of 2013. The survey reveals robust expectations, with 55 per cent of businesses expecting higher sales revenues and another 30 per cent stable sales in the second quarter of 2013. About 80 per cent of respondents expect prices to remain largely stable.

UAE: A major hub for intercontinental travel

new study, based on accurate air passenger volume for origins and destinations (O&D) worldwide, has revealed that the UAE serves as the point of origin for 23.1 million passengers. The analytical study of the Middle East’s travel market by Amadeus showed the UAE enjoys a commanding 23 per cent of the regional market share in terms of intercontinental travel in 2012. Antoine Medawar, VicePresident, Middle East and North Africa, Amadeus, underlined the relevance of the data, said passengers began their intercontinental journey in the UAE (15.7 million passengers flown), than they did combined in Saudi Arabia (7.8 million

passengers flown) and in Qatar (2.8 million passengers flown). The UAE has the highest ratio of intercontinental travellers (68 per cent) versus passengers travelling within the country and departing from there to other destinations within the region (32 per cent). The analysis also highlights Dubai-London as the top route. In terms of regional traffic, the UAE was the most used point of origin for the 7.2 million travellers who flew within the region, followed by Saudi Arabia, which served as the point of origin for 6.1 million travellers within the region. In the UAE market, low-cost carriers commands 23 per cent of the share of traffic in 2012.

June 2013

Interview

Airspace enhancement to end bottlenecks The draft UAE ATM Strategic Plan 2030 is available for the aviation industry’s consultation Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of GCAA, spoke to Via Dubai, about grappling with the airspace constraints and the challenges ahead for the aviation industry.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi DIrector General, GCAA

he game-changing multi-billion dollar expansion of airports in the UAE, mostly led by Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has thrown up Air Traffic Management challenges for the civil aviation authorities. The UAE Flight Information Region (FIR) recorded a total of 741,450 aircraft movements in 2012. The UAE FIR will have 895,468 flight movements in 2015, over 1.13 million flight movements by 2020 and 1.63 million flight movements by 2030. To meet the challenges, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Airbus ProSky have signed an agreement for the UAE Airspace Enhancement programme.

What is GCAA doing to meet the huge demands of air traffic management, given the fast expansion of the fleets of UAE carriers currently and in the future? The UAE FIR witnessed 6.7 per cent traffic growth in 2012 with total of 741,450 aircraft movements. The GCAA has recently signed an agreement with Airbus Prosky, one of the world leading organisations in ATM solutions and airspace design, to start the first phase of the UAE Airspace enhancement programme. The study is focused on assessing the current air traffic operations and management at the airports and the air-

space and to provide suitable recommendations and solutions to enhance the ATM safety and efficiency. There have been many airspace changes in 2012 such as the RNP AR project in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Airport Development Phase 1 and the launch of the Delta sector – 9th air traffic control sector in Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre, associated with other airspace changes and aiming to improve the sector capacity by 55 per cent. There are ongoing airspace proposals due for implementation in 2013 with Bahrain and Oman. We have launched a first in the Middle East region – the UAE Airspace Coordination and Contingency Cell. We are busy finalising phase two as well as implementing a major enhancement to the ATM system

• UAE Flight Information Region witnessed 6.7% traffic growth in 2012

• UAE airports to have 1.62 million aircraft movements by 2030

• GCAA launched AMAN to enhance ATM • GCAA and Airbus Prosky working to restructure UAE airspace

• UAE airspace under pressure to meet growth in aircraft movements

• ICAO named the UAE as the Middle East’s

Performance Based Navigation Champion

Managing crowded skies is a big task for GCAA

through the launch of Arrival Manager – AMAN in Quarter 1 of 2013. Is the UAE airspace under pressure to meet the growth of airports/aircraft movements? We always believe in continuous enhancements and there will always be areas for improvement. Therefore, we and our stakeholders, through the National Airspace Advisory Committee continuously assess and improve the air traffic management. The UAE airports and airspace structure, capabilities and investments are considered amongst the best not only in the Middle East, but worldwide. It is due to the rapid expansion of our national operators and the other regional carriers, with the limitations and the small size of the UAE airspace, and in addition to the overburdening regional

Projections of aircraft movement in the UAE YEAR TOTAL TOTAL Total Over flight Daily Flights

Period

Growth

2010 – 2015

6.8%

2015 195,670 2,452 895,468

2015 – 2020

4.8%

2020 247,360 3,100 1,132,027

2020 – 2030

3.7%

2010 140,821 1,765 644,457

2030 355,728 4,459 1,627,962

constrains and restrictions in areas beyond the control of the UAE, we have delays and bottlenecks in our FIR. Is the airspace restructuring to be done in the UAE alone, or does GCAA feel the need for coordination with other GCC states? Airspace is part of the air traffic management system; we cannot take it in isolation from the rest of the system components. To improve the system, many other areas have to be collabo-

ratively improved such as the airport design and operations, fleet equipage and capabilities, flight scheduling and improvement to the regional constrains and restrictions. The GCAA is working and coordinating very closely with all the stakeholders internally and externally through the National Airspace Advisory Committee, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), CANSO, IATA and ICAO to improve ATM safety and efficiency in the region.

How do you evaluate Air Traffic Management here? The UAE was announced by ICAO as the Middle East PBN (Performance Based Navigation) Champion due to its leading role in airspace design, management and PBN implementation. We have the UAE PBN Implementation plan available in place and we have uploaded the draft UAE ATM Strategic plan 2030 for the industry consultation.

June 2013

Opinion

Success of Green Airport concept in the UAE

UAE using aviation as growth catalyst for economy

Paul Steele Executive Director Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)

here are perhaps few areas of the world so enthusiastic about the important role that aviation can play in boosting the national economies as the Middle East, especially the Arabian Gulf states. The policy support that airlines and airports receive from the authorities in the region shows that those governments realise the benefits

from aviation extend far beyond simply the passengers that arrive and depart. In fact, in a study done for ATAG revealed that over 2.7 million jobs and $129 billion of GDP in the Middle East region are supported by the air transport. While it is obvious to any observer of the region that there has been a rapid growth, the numbers also bear out the anecdotal evidence. The UAE did not even appear in the Top 10 list of countries by passengers in 2004, but was number five on that list just six years later. And the latest figures from Airports Council International (ACI) show that Dubai is the 10th largest airport worldwide in terms of passengers number and early 2013 became the

world’s second busiest airport for international passengers. From an aviation perspective, the UAE punches well above its weight. The growth of air traffic and economic prosperity in the region is not just an accident of geography – although the location helps connect the world – it is a determined decision to use aviation as a driver of economic growth and it is something we would like to see repeated the world over. Unfortunately, not all governments are as forwardthinking. But another area is of equal importance – the UAE’s emphasis on the open skies and the willingness of the state to provide access to carriers of all nations. Garuda has a very successful service from Indonesia to

Europe via the UAE which it is estimated benefits the Indonesian economy by some $27 million each year. Qantas, in a tie up with Emirates Airline, has just shifted its hub for European traffic to Dubai. And it is significant that cargo remains a focus for airlines in the region – we transport 35 per cent of the world’s cargo by value but only 0.5 per cent by volume meaning air transported cargo is very high value. These factors - a willingness to open up and liberalise the aviation environment; and using aviation as a growth catalyst for the rest of the economy, not only makes the UAE stand out in good stead for the future, but also provides a positive example to governments all over the world.

Airspace capacity improvement key to success of aviation industry

irspace is one of the most significant elements of a nation’s or region’s infrastructure, just like the roads and bridges. Airspace is also a key enabler of commerce and must be sufficient to support the growth of airlines in the future. The services should be delivered in a way that optimises safety and efficiency of routing, along with taking environmental aspects into consideration. We need to find out how to make air travel safer, faster, greener and cheaper. The UAE is situated at a key location for international air transit, both for long-haul flights and travel within the Middle East region. The Middle East airports are projected to handle 400 million passengers by 2020. Dubai International Airport, the world’s second busiest airport for inter-

national passengers, is due to handle 65 million passengers in 2013. The UAE airlines have placed substantial orders for the new aircraft to serve new markets. However, less than 50 per cent of the airspace is allocated full-time for civil air traffic. The success of aviation in the UAE is very dependent on the improvement of capabilities within its airspace as well as in the neighboring flight information regions (FIRs) and in the overall region. Our own fleets of aircraft are generally well equipped in terms of CNS technology, which is not utilised to full capacity. The Emirates FIR does not cover a large geographical area.It is only about the size of a control area (CTA), typical to many of the world’s busiest metropolitan areas such as London or New York,

with the addition of overlaying high-altitude en route airspace. There is a strong interest in improving capacity and efficiency, and a willingness to leverage best practices across the world to take advantage of the highly-capable aviation fleets in the UAE. For example, the European Commission is driving efforts to create a Single European Sky, in particular within the European SESAR programme. By 2020, there should be room for three times as many aircraft, safety simultaneously improved by a factor of ten and the cost of air traffic control will be halved and environmental impacts reduced by 10 percent. The vital role that aviation plays in the UAE’s economy and society, stresses the importance of improvement in

Georges Hannouche Chairman and CEO Bayanat Airports Engineering Supplies

hat is a Green Airport? Firstly, we need to review the factors detrimental to the environment - noise caused by aircraft movement and carbon emissions. These impede the progress of aviation industry as they trigger civil movements against the airports projects. At the end of ‘90s, a non-profit organisation was established in the US, Clean Airport Partnership, for enhancing the environmental conditions surrounding airports. One of its most important works was the launch of Green Airports Initiative. The aviation institutions in the US and Europe took the initiative seriously. Consequently, the US Federal Aviation Administration launched The Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen. EuroControl

launched a programme to unify skies in Europe and implemented the state-of-the-art means to tackle environmental damages. In 2008, the European Commission approved a law imposing a carbon tax on the airlines which do not comply with the criteria for carbon emission. Those measures received harsh objection from countries such as the US and China. The UAE also objected as its airlines (Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and Air Arabia) use the most-modern aircraft which consume less fuel. As a result of this fierce opposition, those measures have been frozen. The environmental issues during ‘80s and early ‘90s rarely attracted the authorities’ attention, as they concerned with building the infrastructure. When the rulers realised that the aviation sec-

tor is vital to the economy, they allocated huge budgets leading to aviation boom. Consequently, the authorities began to seriously consider the environmental issues. The airports worked diligently to alleviate the effects of carbon emissions. Endeavours to convert the airports into ‘Green Airports’ remarkably contributes to cut in fuel consumption and pollution. The adoption of Green Airport criteria shall be obligatory in the future. We must remember late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his steadfast commitment to environmental issues which helped convert the desert into green oases. I have full trust that the current rulers of the UAE will continue his great legacy by carrying out environmental projects such as the ones initiated by him.

Airport and airline collaboration is the only way forward

Nils Olof Svan Head of Aviation Regulation and Safety, Standards & Regulations Department Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

the airspace capacity in order to manage the growth. To sustain the success of aviation in the UAE, as a major first step, it is of utmost importance to ensure optimum efficiency in governance of airspace, air navigation service provision, and the strategic direction of the UAE aviation sector.

s aviation authorities in the GCC have shown, close cooperation between airport authorities and the airlines they host is essential to running successful airport and airline businesses and delivering economic growth for their cities. At the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) held in Dubai in May, regional airport, airline and civil aviation officials had an excellent opportunity to interact and learn from their peers around the world. While the conference covered many aspects of airport development and operation, key amongst these was a discussion on how airports can improve engagement with their number one client – the airline. Participants were

able to interact with international experts in round table discussions aimed at identifying key success strategies for airports to improve interaction with airlines. As a useful start, airports were encouraged to understand the business model of the airlines they serve, their pressure to be profitable and how lower, stable airport charges could help. Likewise airports were asked to share their business model with airlines, especially highlighting the public policy element of their work and its cost implications. Airports were also encouraged to ensure that airline clients did not just feel as customers but as partners in this complex relationship. Airports should support air-

lines in their dealings with government, especially with security and immigration authorities in making the passenger experience more pleasant. Finally, open communication was highlighted as a key driver of a successful airport-airline partnerships. Examples of how this could be encouraged included employee exchange programmes and regular discussion forums, where both parties worked together to solve each other’s challenges. Travellers today have an increasing choice of travel options – from a variety of modern and efficient airlines and airports to choose from, alternative modes of transport or even substituting travel for communica-

Daniyal Qureshi Event Director Airport Show

tion (e.g. video conferencing) where convenient. Airports must understand that they need to work with airlines as allies to deliver a cost effective, hassle free and enjoyable travel experience, as only this can ensure their growth and long term profitability.

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June 2013

In Focus

Intelligent Airports

The Gate to Auto mated Air Travel Dubai International Airport is at the forefront of air travel automation

Air travel automation currently allows you to buy tickets online, book seats, check in, drop bags, print boarding passes and choose meals

n many countries, building new airports and/or expanding existing ones may not be a viable option to cope with the huge expected increase in passenger numbers, which will hit 3 billion by 2050 according to the International Air Transport Association(IATA).

The most viable solution is to use technology to harness all available resources, including increasing capacity in airports and accelerating procedures for aircraft, passengers and cargo.

Airport Automation

Air travel automation is not a new concept; it is currently available for passengers, especially frequent flyers, to buy their tickets online, book their seats, check in, drop their bags, print their boarding passes and even choose their favorite meal without having to interact directly with the carrier orairport staff. Automation has lots of benefits for both passengers and carriers, but two key elements of the travel process remain outside the hands of the carriers: security procedures and boarding, both of which still have to be done by people. Self-boarding gates are the latest step in air travel automation; many carriers have already implemented the technology or are in the trial phase. It is projected that by 2020 about 80 per cent of the passengers travelling through the world’s international airports will have to deal with machines, and not interact with human beings at all, as they pass through automated check-ins and immigration counters. Self-boarding gates are the latest step in air travel

automation; many carriers have already implemented the technology. This meets the demands of a new era of travelers who seek a more sophisticated and efficient means of managing their travel. Dubai, which is now the world’s second biggest airport for international passengers, and its award-winning Emirates Airline have been pioneers in several air travel automation initiatives and continues to be in the forefront to enhance the portfolio of e-travel services to meet the ever-evolving demands and desires of travelers. Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 (T3) is equipped with a number of self-service facilities that enables passengers to check in for their flights and obtain a boarding pass without having to queue at the counter. Integrated counters with baggage belts attached allow passengers to check in baggage automatically. Passengers with baggage to check in who use the standalone kiosks can deposit their bags at the Bag Drop Counter. Since 2011, passengers flying from Dubai with Emirates Airlines have the choice to receive a mobile boarding pass. The service can be utilised by any passenger with any webenabled mobile phone, and they can receive a web link to their mobile boarding pass via email or SMS. Additionally,

passengers of Emirates Airline can opt for online check-in. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, says: “A new generation of increasingly demanding travelers expects instant access to information and resources. Airports and airlines have been exploiting the power of emerging and maturing technologies to ensure seamless travel experience for passengers. John Borewalde, Lufthansa’s Development Manager, says: “Self-boarding gates will cancel the need for huge numbers of employees to oversee this task. Those employees can then be redistributed to provide other services to passengers. Carriers which implement self-boarding gate technology will differentiate themselves from others, and better meet travelers’ expectations of high quality services.”

Baggage Handling

When it comes to bag handling, airports face a daunting job, not only because of the millions of bags they handle annually, but also because of the huge divergence in passenger numbers in different travel seasons, the process of transferring bags from connecting to final flights, and the need to trace millions of bags through every stop on the journey. At the Dubai International Airport, passenger baggage handling is another of area of

focus for constant attention, considering the fact that the facility last year handled 58 million passengers and expected to receive over 65 million passengers in 2013. The iconic airport has the world’s largest airport baggage handling system which runs about 90 kilometres in length (conveyor belt) and allows handling of 15000 items of baggage per hour. It was installed by Siemens. The Dubai World Central (DWC) is expected to house a fully-automated baggage handling system capable of handling around 240 million bags per annum, when the project is fully completed by 2020. Traditionally, baggage handling has been the most disappointing aspect of air travel. This bad reputation remains despite the huge improvements in handling systems. Some European airports, like Amsterdam Schipholhave managed to develop pioneering system solutions that can handle more than 70 million bags annually through an integrated robotic system that extends across more than 70 kilometres of conveyor belts, enabling the airport to meet deadlines even when flights are delayed. Mark Lakerfield, Manager of Baggage Services at Schiphol, says that the system, codenamed ‘Backbone’, links arrival and departure sched-

Perfecting the process can be achieved through integrating new technology with a deep understanding of all the phases of the process ules at the carrier counters with the bag handling center, resulting in a savings of 75 per cent of the energy needed to operate the handling system and hence reducing one of the biggest cost items for airport operators. Lakerfield explains that the system integrates the security check phase with transfer to the aircraft to meet the separation time deadline between connecting flights, which ranges between 30 to 45 minutes in most airports, during which the aircraft must remain open.

Unique System

The system was developed in cooperation between Vandeland Industries and IBM. The system also includes FR Build, which reads the electronic tags attached to the bags, resulting in a 99 per cent increase in the tracing ratio compared with a traditional barcode system. The system also includes a unique feature for reporting missing bags that enables passengers to reclaim their luggage without having to stand in long queues at the missing bags office, and to stay in connection through text messages and e-mails with the carrier for updates.

Self Check-in facility is popular among Emirates’ passengers

June 2013

Technology

Environment

‘Smart’ airports of the future

Green reality for aviation in the UAE

Enhanced passenger experience is the key 400 million passengers by 2020

Airport Show offered glimpses into future technology

y 2020, it might be possible for 80 per cent of the passengers travelling through the world’s international airports to only have to deal with machines, and not interact with human beings at all. Just a few years ago, airport managers were claiming that “there is no such thing as free airport WiFi”. However,a new generation of increasingly demanding travellers, who expect to have instant access to information and resources, have forced them to reconsider. Hussein Dabbas, Vice-President, Middle East and North Africa, IATA, told Via Dubai that a study revealed that about 50 per cent people prefer using machines rather than checking-in and passing security check conventionally. Much in the same way, the global economic slump, shifting demographics and new corporate governance requirements are making airports reconsider their business models

and seek new ways that will allow them to adapt easily and efficiently to changing environments and fast paced operations. Francesco Violante, Chief Executive Officer, SITA, said:“Imagine this technology which will also help airport operators to geo-locate you through your phone etc, and send you specific information that would be of interest to you, enabling you to go shopping for discount deals you want, collect your boarding card as you enter the aircraft, in short absolutely eliminate all the hassle that makes air travel so stressful right now.” Hussein Dabbas said: “Growth of passenger numbers has been phenomenal – by 2020 – almost 95 million passengers are expected to cross Dubai International airport and infrastructure needs to keep up. Most people find processes at the airports to be the most troublesome part of their journey at present.

The Middle East airports, are expected to handle 400 million passengers by 2020. To that end, intelligent technologies like telematics, mobile apps, RFID and automation can enable airports to build a digital grid that will become their nervous system. Mohammed Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), says: “An airport is always judged by its security and service standards. It’s crucial to adopt innovative technology, improve security and streamline efficiencies to offer a seamless passenger travel experience.” The 13th Airport Show provided hundreds of visitors the opportunity to get an amazing ‘look, touch and feel’ experience about the way millions of people across the world will travel through the airports in the coming years.

Passenger Experience

The Airport Passenger Experience (APE) layout at the show was structured like a real terminal – starting with baggage handling and scanning systems, following through check in, passport control, pas-

Key Highlights

• Airports exploit power of emerging and maturing technologies

• More machine interface for passengers by 2020

• 70% of world airports to have new wayfinding services by 2015

senger scanning, duty free and ending with the gate lounge where passengers board the aircraft. Georges Hannouche, Arab world’s leading aviation expert, said an enhanced passenger experience will become an increasingly important differentiator in an airport’s competitive position in the global economy. The IATA Head of Passenger Experience, Paul Behan, said that personalised air travel process in which the traveller has control is crucial to the enhanced passenger experience of the future. The travellers are increasingly seeking an airport journey that is individualised to their needs and tailored to their trip. The degree of personalisation that the passenger wants is growing, and every passenger requires slightly different things, he stated.

Product View

The technologies displayed include communication systems, Internet and mobile connectivity, Passenger and baggage handling, Passenger and baggage scanning, Passenger guidance, Passenger information, Passport scanning, biometrics and IRIS, Seating and VIP lounges, Surveillance and access control systems, Terminal signage and Ticketing, reservation and check in. LG Electronics showcased its market-leading position through the launch of several trustworthy and innovative products and solutions like the world’s first 84-inch Ultra HD multi-touch signage, the world’s narrowest Bezel to Bezel, 55-inch Multi-Vision Public Display and a gigantic video wall with an interactive interface that provides passengers immersive digital signage experience coupled with Social Networking.

In an exclusive interview with Via Dubai, Dr. Khaled Almazroui, Founding President of Green Aviation and Logistics Group (GALG) Middle East, talks about sustainable aviation and what is being done to ensure a better and clean future

ow strong is aviation industry growth in the Middle East? The Middle East is one of the world’s fastest growing regions for the aviation industry. The massive expansion of airports and airlines has brought a number of environmental issues and the need to eliminate the negative impacts. About US$90 billion are to be spent in the aviation sector in the region by 2020. In the UAE, the aviation contributes AED145 billion to the GDP. Nearly two-thirds of the latest aircraft from Boeing and Airbus are going to come to the region. The Middle East is projected to handle 400 million passengers by 2020. A recent survey by GALF has rated Middle East as the top region in the world with

highest potential for aviation investments and expansions. In 2030, there will be 2710 aircraft. What is the current status of environmental issues in the aviation industry? Aviation remains the only industry sector to have committed to tough global targets for carbon reduction. Aviation emissions are less than two per cent of global man-made emissions. IATA is working to improve aircraft fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent annually to 2020 and to cut net emissions in half by 2050 compared with 2005 levels. According to IATA’s Vision 2050, aircraft are now 70 per cent more fuel efficient and the landing and take-off (LTO) oxides of nitrogen (NOx) have been cut by roughly 75 per

Dr. Khaled Almazroui aggressively promotes GALG in the Middle East

cent from a baseline aircraft (B737-800). There has been a halving over the past 40 years in the fuel it takes to fly a passenger one kilometre. There are many more people flying today and so the absolute level of CO2 emissions is still rising and adding to the industry’s climate impacts. Since the first biofuel test flight in 2008, more than 1,500 commercial flights using biofuels have taken place. IATA is supporting ICAO’s progress on developing a carbon standard for new aircraft. New air navigation procedures will also cut emissions and noise. The number of announced alternative fuel activities has increased from 11 in 2009 to over 300 in 2011. How is Green Aviation and Logistics Group Middle East making a difference to the industry? We have been working towards creating awareness about the environmental impact in the aviation industry. We have been successful in providing a platform for knowledge-sharing. We are currently working on making GALG-ME as an industry consultative body under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The new legal entity will help us organise ourselves more effectively and reach out to the industry in a bigger way. We hope to finish the entire programme

by this year-end. Government support is also overwhelming. We want organisations and individuals to join us in our mission to provide a greener society. We plan to have a training centre. Our members will have regular exchanges that will cover technical innovations and other drivers, like eco-design of engines, systems, GTL technology, fuel from algae, and waste management. What do you think about the green initiatives in the Middle East aviation sector? Civil aviation authorities are committed to protect the environment and they should implement number of measures to this effect. Airports should take more effective steps to reduce the carbon foot print. State governments are actively supporting the green initiatives. Environment remains an important ‘future’ priority for the aviation industry. Industry members like airlines, airports, manufacturers, ATC and regulatory authorities should be united behind the effective measures. Governments should fund generously towards the green initiatives to protect the environment. It is imperative that green technologies are initiated and pursued for an environmentally sustainable logistics sector. Last year, GCAA approved the environment policy for the civil aviation sector.

June 2013

Technology

Cargo & Logistics

Airports must be equipped to service new aircraft In an interview with Via Dubai, Juergen Strommer, Managing Director of Cavotec Middle East, shares insights into the growth opportunities in the aviation industry in the GCC

Juergen Strommer Managing Director, Cavotec Middle East

ow has been the business environment for Cavotec since opening office in Dubai in 1995? Dubai provides us a strategic location to service our customers in the civilian and defence markets in the Middle East. Our flagship customers are Dubai International Airport and Emirates Airlines and we have had the pleasure of growing with both entities through their own evolution. With a 6,000 square metre sales, engineering and technical facility in Dubai, we have been able to attract other large domestic and international airports for providing advanced engineering solutions to complex and demanding requirements. How do you see the growth prospects in the UAE, Bahrain and Oman? What about Kuwait and Saudi Arabia markets? The UAE, Oman and Bahrain airports have Cavotec equipment installed and we are also active in Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Senegal and elsewhere. With regard to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Cavotec has made significant investments in personnel to monitor and manage new and on-going projects. In Saudi Arabia, where 29 domestic airports are all in planning or in the design stage for green field development or upgrades, Cavotec is playing a significant role in providing

the airport operators with innovative technologies that lower costs and streamline operations. What major contracts have the company signed and implemented in the UAE in and other countries in the region? Over the past year, we successfully bid for contracts for Emirates Engineering for our in-ground pop-up utility pits, which conveniently provide 400 Hz power, fuel, pre-conditioned air and potable water to A380 aircraft; and with Sohar International Airport in Oman for the supply and installation of aviation fuelling equipment. With our acquisition of ground support equipment manufacturer Combibox, we further cemented our leading position in aviation engineering by strengthening not only our range of product offerings but also our customer base. Cavotec is dedicated to the GCC market where our customers regard us as the “go to” people for our “inspired engineering” and outstanding customer service. What is your forecast for the aviation/airports industry in the region? The explosive growth the region is experiencing promises more involvement for Cavotec. We are investing in new technologies to address the demanding environments found in the Middle East region. These include systems that cool aircraft in

harsh climates, where temperatures regularly top 50 degrees Celsius, or by delivering intelligent GSE equipment to keep pace with aircraft manufacturers who are producing newer and larger aircraft. Airports must be ready and equipped to service new aircraft that are entering service. We have engineered some of the world’s most cutting-edge technologies that deliver long-term solutions to complex and demanding aircraft requirements. What are the challenges the aviation industry faces in the region? One of the challenges that the industry faces is the need to reduce carbon emissions and lower environmental impact overall. Cavotec has introduced the APU Free Apron which enables pilots to turn off APU (Auxiliary Power unit) and use electrical power provided at the gate. This reduces carbon

emissions and lowers costs because APUs burn jet fuel that is expensive and pollutes the environment. Our in-ground systems also eliminate GSE vehicles on the apron, with the exception of cargo and catering vehicles. As a leading system designer and integrator for the global airports sector, what is the market growth scenario in the UAE and GCC? Currently accounting for eight per cent of the global air transport industry, Middle Eastbased airlines are growing at 10 per cent annually, double the global average. Furthermore, low-cost carrier expansion will be a major driver of passenger traffic as well as the new airport developments. One staggering example is that the UAE airports plan to invest US$50 billion in projects over the next 15 years. It’s safe to say the road ahead looks very promising for this exciting industry.

Cavotec is a key player in the regional aviation industry’s growth

DWC cargo records 7.8 % growth

ubai World Central (DWC) witnessed a 7.8 per cent increase in cargo volumes in the first quarter of 2013, according to Dubai Airports. DWC, which is being prepared for the launch of passenger operations in October this year, handled a total of 53,974 tonnes of freight in the first three months this year, a year on year increase of 7.8 per cent compared to 50,062 tonnes that passed through the facility during the corresponding period in 2012. The moderate growth is the result of the high base of traffic developed following two years of rapid expansion, as well as periodic fluctuations of freight volumes carried by charter-driven operations. Air traffic movement at the airport rose 16.8 per cent to 4,104 in the first three months of 2013 compared to 3,513 movements during the first quarter of 2012. “Maintaining triple-digit

Cargo volume sees a surge at DWC

air freight traffic expansion is a difficult task… even in Dubai,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. “The next step in the evolution of the airport will see continued cargo traffic growth, the commencement of passenger operations slated for October 27 with the launch carriers Wizz Air and nasair, and the hosting of its first ever Dubai Airshow from November 17. “All will play a role in building our new airport’s growing brand reputation,” he added. Dubai Airports’ total

cargo volumes are expected to top three million tonnes by 2015 and an increasing portion of that growth is expected to spill over to DWC. DWC handled 219,092 tonnes of air freight during its second full calendar year of operations, an increase of 144 per cent over 2011. In 2012, Dubai World Central’s average monthly air cargo volumes totalled 18,258 tonnes compared to 7,477 tonnes recorded during the airport’s first full year of operations in 2011.

e-Freight in 80 % airports by 2015

Stagnation suffocating air freight markets

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) plans to implement e-Freight programmes in 80 per cent of the airports across the world by 2015. Des Vertannes, Global Head of Cargo, IATA, said the e-Freight programme links the entire consortium of consigners and consignees with the customs department in a seamless, paperless process. This also allows stakeholders to identify data required by border agencies well in advance. E-Freight is currently available in 462 airports globally and IATA’s goal is to implement the programme in 80 per cent of airports by 2015. “We also have devised the consign-

ment security declaration which can be used to electronically transmit information, such as who has supplied the cargo, when and how, making it ideal to ensure security during border-trade,” he said. IATA has been working with WCO and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to develop long-term solutions in air cargo and border-trade cargo management. With increasing volumes, programmes such as the US CVP pilot edition that offers advanced screening options help to manage air cargo and reduce duplication of paper-based data management, he said during the WCO IT Conference and Exhibition-2013.

hallenging times for airlines, express companies and freight forwarders that serve international air freight markets will continue in 2013, according to a new report published by Air Cargo Management Group (ACMG). After a remarkable recovery in 2010, global demand for air freight has been stagnant for the 30-month period through the fourth quarter of 2012. Full-year 2012 FTK statistics reflect about a two per cent decline versus 2011, placing the total only about 1% above the pre-recession peak in 2007. In other words, it is five years with no net growth. ACMG’s Air Freight and Express Performance Analysis 2013 found that participants in the global international air freight and express industry

took in records revenue of $96 billion in 2011. That total includes revenue from airlines, freight forwarders and express companies. Revenue results for 2012 are likely to be down slightly given negative trends in traffic and yield in 2012. This situation is putting downward pressure on the demand for freighters. All of the production freighters on offer are wide bodies: the A330200F, 747 8F, 777F and 767-300F types. The combined backlog of orders for these models, at roughly 200, fell in 2012, based on delivery of about 50 units, while new orders were scarce. Also of note, there were some freighter order cancellations and deferrals in 2012, a trend that ACMG expects to continue in 2013.

SCLG presence in 100 countries by 2020

ith a core objective of further growing the UAE’s logistics sector, the Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG), has announced plans to be present in over 100 countries by year 2020. SCLG is a professional business group and supports the supply chain and logistics industry in Dubai and across the globe. A not-for-profit business group working under patronage of Dubai Chamber of

Commerce and Industry, SCLG is engaged in addressing the challenges of the supply chain and logistics industry. Atiq J. Nassib, Senior Director, Dubai Chamber, said around 14 per cent of UAE’s GDP is contributed by the supply chain and logistics sector. “The secret of Dubai’s success as a supply chain and logistics hub is its air-sea-land multimodular transportation options,” he said.

June 2013

Flashback

1971: Dubai Airport

The New Beginning

Via Dubai brings exclusive excerpts from Ghassan Amhaz’s authoritative book, From the Creek to the Skies – History and Future of Civil Aviation in Dubai

n the early morning on May 15, 1971, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, along with his sons, arrived at the new airport to oversee the arrangements for the official opening ceremony. At 10 am, he cut the ceremonial ribbon to declare the facility open in the presence of rulers of other emirates, VIPs, government officials and representatives of airlines and other aviation industry organisations. British military planes, Hawker Hunters performed an airshow and British soldiers carried out thrilling parachute jumping formations the high skies. MEA, Kuwait Airways, PIA, Iran Air, BOAC and Gulf Aviation aircraft used the facility. It was a big ceremony attended by a large number of people who expressed their admiration for its oriental design and huge hall, which later became the most important centre for trade exhibitions and weddings in the UAE. The building design of Dubai’s new airport was distinguished and inspired by the wonderful environment of the East. The shifting from the old building to the new terminal was a big burden for the airport staff, but they happily carried their equipment and personal belongings themselves. Dnata transformed the old terminal into a cargo and training centre. Mohammed Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), said: “The first trade show at the airport’s hall was a jewellery show, the first in Dubai’s history. It was visited by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, who were transiting in Dubai from East Asia. They were received by Sheikh Rashid at the airport and he accompanied them to the show. They also visited the new airport terminal”. Less than a year after the opening of the airport, the Dubai government was ready to negotiate with international airlines to place the airport on their route maps. The airport was in perfect shape to receive flights operated by international carriers with its new, 12,500 sq.ft. airstrip, which was used for the first time on November 22, 1971. The Dubai Air Traffic Control Unit was introduced in September 1971, and the completion of lighting systems, along

with an increase in the capacity of air conditioned halls to include 1,200 passengers, was completed by the end of November 1971. Sheikh Mana bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, who was appointed by Sheikh Rashid as the first chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation on March 18, 1971, said: “The airport enabled us to invite major international airlines to use the modern facility”. One of the most prominent airlines attracted by the airports was PAL Airways of Switzerland, which started its weekly chartered flights through the airport. It later endorsed the airport as a regional destination for its flights to the rest of the cities in the region. This was in addition to Air India, Kuwait Airways, Egypt Air and KLM. Official statistics show that passenger numbers in 1971 rose by 22 per cent to 642,000. In 1971, the third Indo-Pakistani war had broken out. During the war, airlines diverted their flights to Dubai International to protect lives of passengers. While the world in the 1970s was witnessing the emergence of two dominant political systems -capitalism and communism- the UAE remained outside those systems, following a policy of good neighbourly relations and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Dubai Airport became an important location, receiving planes from all countries.

Mohammed Ahli said: “We welcomed all airlines, including those owned by communist states, despite the sensitivity in the Gulf region towards communist regimes during that period ... among them was Ilyushin II-4, owned by Czechoslovakian Airlines from Dubai enroute to Bangkok/Bombay. Tarom Romanian Airlines operated an unscheduled flight carrying vegetables, fresh eggs and chicken for the local market. I can say that this flight contributed, though indirectly, to the establishment of the first poultry farm in the UAE by UAE businessmen, who decided to take the initiative in supplying the local market with these products”. Between 1970 and 1972, two new services were introduced; passengers were transported to aircraft by buses instead of walking, and the catering and hospitality services were put on board. Passenger numbers rose from 315,000 in 1969 to over 524,000 in 1970. In 1972, Dubai Airport introduced the new service of carrying passengers to aircraft in buses. The service, started in a modest way with two white Mercedes buses. The Department of Civil Aviation presented the expansion project proposal to Sheikh Rashid, who immediately allocated a budget for it, as the airport was Dubai’s gateway to the world. New offices were built to serve airlines. On June 19 of the same year, a new advanced radar system was launched.