Monthly Newsletter issued by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
www.viadubaionline.com
Issue 67 December 2018
Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum:
New journey towards bright future
18 Inside DCAA
DCAA Interview
DCAA workshop on Dubai Human Resources Law
7
2019 is Year of Tolerance
9
Middle East News 30
DDF to grow in line with Dubai’s aviation development plans
A vision to make UAE the hub for discussion on safety issues Hafidh Masoud Al Zaraei
Airlines 34
Opinion 24
Airport – A Different Business Altogether
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28
Cargo & Logistics 35
Emerging economies to drive global growth Angela Gittens
32
Technology 36
Message
from the President
Continuing the journey of success
F
or Dubai’s vibrant aviation industry, 2018 is another year of growth and expansion across all fronts as we march forward. Aviation to contribute US$53.1 billion to Dubai’s economy, 37.5 per cent to its GDP and will support over 750,000 jobs by 2020. The aviation sector will contribute US$88.1 billion or 45 per cent of the Dubai Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030. Dubai International clocked the one billion passengers mark since its opening in 1960. The busiest hub connects 240 destinations around the world through around 100 airlines and is expected to serve 90 million passengers in 2018. DXB has been named the 18th most internationallyconnected airport in the world. Looking at all the 410 routes which operate to the UAE, Dubai is served from 208 destinations – the highest. Over one million seats are offered weekly on the airlines from Dubai. By 2025, Dubai expects to carry 143 million passengers through Dubai International and Al Maktoum International.
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
aircraft this year. Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) continues providing boundless support to the growth of the aviation industry in Dubai, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security. It has to its credit pioneering policies and programmes which include drone licensing and management and e-Services. Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) will have to handle over 600,000 flights by 2020. Undoubtedly, 2018 is another milestone in our journey. This year’s performance figures will be announced by the beginning of 2019. I wish to thank everyone in the aviation industry and convey my best wishes for another fruitful year.
Emirates and flydubai, continue their relentless march of success with more passengers, more routes and more
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History is a continuum of events and the present is an extension of the past, and he who does not know his past cannot live his present and future.
Sayings by Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
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December 2018
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 Al-Maktoum, 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.
CONTENTS
Inside DCAA 07
DCAA workshop on Dubai Human Resources Law
08 Bahrain International Expo
09
DCAA participates in ICAN Annual Conference
10 DCAA celebrates 47th UAE
11
Workshop on accident investigations
13 DCAA participates in the Global
participation
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 Mohammed Abdulla Ahli
National Day
Coordinator Hanan Al Mazimi Creative Manager Mohammed Al Jarouf Marketing Manager Fahed Mohammed E-mail: viadubai1@naddalshiba.com
Smart City Summit
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.
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DCAA Interview
Hafidh Masoud Al Zaraei
A vision to make UAE the hub for discussion on safety issues
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Our Vision
The World Airport, Dubai
Our Mission
Leading and sustaining Civil Aviation Sector by providing capacity, building a competitive edge through innovating, developing people and leaders and achieving customers’ happiness. Toll Free:80083222 Contact number:+97147770000 Fax:+97142244573 Email: info@dcaa.gov.ae; dcaa@dcaa.gov.ae http://www.facebook.com/dcaadubai
DCAA website:www.dcaa.gov.ae Working Hours:Sunday – Thursday, 0730 - 1430 (GMT+4) Location:Dubai International Airport, Terminal (1), Level (1), Gate no. (4), (Arrivals Side) P.O. Box:49888 Dubai - United Arab Emirates twitter.com/dcaadubai
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youtube.com/user/dcaadubai
Message
from the Director General
Safety and security- life of the airport
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viation safety, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is as an essential element of its aims and objectives and it strives to further improve the aviation’s safety performance, capacity and efficiency. Highest levels of safety requirements and regulatory oversight ensures civil aviation the best. With aviation growing fast in the emirate and expected to contribute US$88.1 billion or 45 per cent of the Dubai’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has remained ahead of times and continually works towards improving the safety standards. Aviation safety is of prime importance given the present growth levels and future prospects. The UAE has remained the safest aviation destination in the world after it scored the highest ever ranking issued by the ICAO in 2015. It scored a success rate of 98.86 per cent making it the most compliant with the international safety standards. Throughout its illustrious history, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) had dedicated itself to enhance the aviation safety standards and knowledge sharing among the industry professionals. Cross-industry and multi-stakeholder dialogues and collaboration is
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Mohammed Abdulla Ahli
needed to tackle new and shared vulnerabilities. We have much to learn from each other, especially for the UAE whose vision is to be one of the best countries in the world by 2021. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has recently hosted the World Aviation Safety Summit (WASS) with the participation of several experts who shed light on the future challenges of the aviation sector and the importance of collectively meeting them. The hosting of this Summit comes to affirm Dubai’s commitment to ensure a safe and secure future for air travel.
Inside DCAA
People of determination
T DCAA workshop on Dubai Human Resources Law
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n cooperation with the Human Resources Department of the Government of Dubai, the Human Resources Department of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) organised an introductory workshop to raise the awareness of its employees about the Dubai Human Resources Law No. 8 of 2018. At the end of the workshop, Abdulrahim Al Mulla, Executive Director of Corporate Support and Communication Sector, delivered a certificate of thanks and appreciation to the Dubai Government Human Resources Department in recognition of their fruitful efforts. The certificate was received on behalf of the Department by Juma Al Mutawa, Director of the Legal Affairs Office.
he UAE pays special attention to People of determination as this duty has deep roots in the Islam. The UAE founder President, Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan believed that people of determination lare a significant segment of the UAE society that deserves all the support, care and attention. In 2004, the UAE issued a federal law which gives the individuals with special needs, the right to work and to provide them with employment opportunities in the public sector posts. The UAE ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in March 2010. The UAE constitution guarantees the right for persons with determination to live in dignity as equal citizens, including their right to work and participate in all aspects of life. The leadership’s vision is of full access and inclusion of People of determination by 2020. The UAE is pushing for the creation of a national disabled database, currently with over 18,000 registered users, to “enable people of determination to access the full spectrum of dedicated services and exercise their rights.” The UAE has ramped up preparations for the summer 2019 Special Olympics as it readies itself for the arrival of 7,000 athletes of special determination. Specially prepared transport, a local sign language book and dedicated officials to support disabled visitors are just some of the steps taken as Abu Dhabi becomes the first Middle Eastern city to host the Special Olympics. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has rightly called them People of Determination in April 2017 as part of his national strategy for empowering people of determination.
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Inside DCAA
Bahrain International Expo participation H .E. Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, attended the 5th Edition of Bahrain International Expo. He was accompanied by Mr Saud Kankazar, Executive Director Air Transport and International Affairs Sector. The Director General’s visit included a field tour of the participating country pavilions and the local, regional and international companies specialised in the field of airspace.
DCAA gets membership of International Society of Air Safety Investigators
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he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has been bestowed with the membership of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators in recognition for its efforts with respect to actively participating in related conferences and meetings. His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of the Authority, received the membership certificate from Abdulla Al Hamadi, Director of Accident Investigation & Aircraft Oversight Department. The International Society of Air Safety Investigators was established in 1964 and is based in the USA.
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Inside DCAA
2019 is Year of Tolerance O n the occasion of declaring 2019 as the Year of Tolerance in the UAE by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), said: “We are so proud of the never-ending achievements of our beloved country and its initiatives to promote cohesion and harmony in the homeland under a rational leadership
in possession of a keen vision and high wisdom.” He added: “In continuation of the Year of Zayed, the proclamation of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, of 2019 a Year of Tolerance is an affirmation of the continuation of excellence and leadership in tolerance, peaceful coexistence and respect for cultural pluralism throughout the country, which includes more than 200 nationalities enjoying a life of dignity and harmony.
The UAE is the homeland of tolerance, goodness and love, and the homeland of human values established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul.”
DCAA participates in ICAN Annual Conference
H
eaded by Saood Abdulaziz Kankazar, Executive Director, Air Transport and International Affairs Sector, a delegation from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in the ICAO Air Service Negotiation Conference (ICAN) held in Nairobi, Kenya in December. The delegation held bilateral discussions with a number of participating countries with the aim to develop the air transport sector. The participation came as part of the UAE delegation, which included representatives from the different aviation sectors in the country, in addition to national carriers.
National Day of Kingdom of Bahrain
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he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in welcoming Bahraini visitors on the occasion of celebrating the National Day of Kingdom of Bahrain. The
participation of the Authority came as part of the “My Identity” team in Dubai Airports to stress the depth of relations between the two countries.
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Inside DCAA
DCAA celebrates 47th UAE National Day
T
he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) celebrated the 47th UAE National Day in the presence of its Director General His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Executive Directors and the other staff members. The ceremony included a number of activities and competitions including heritage and national quizzes. On this occasion, Mohammed Ahli said: “We celebrate on the 2nd day of December each year as the National Day of the UAE, which marks the start of the UAE National march that is full of achievements and successes, and that put our country in the ranks of the world’s most-advanced countries.
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He extended his sincere greetings to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE’s Armed Forces and their fellow Rulers and Crown Princes of the UAE. The UAE has demonstrated its ability to make achievements, and to outshine, excel, lead and continue what the founding forefathers had started by standing side by side with the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan, when the UAE was declared a State on the 2nd of December, 1971. Back then, the Founding Father managed with his wisdom and tolerance to unite the ranks and hearts of citizens and residents alike, and he worked hard to support the oppressed, and help the friendly countries and peoples affected by crisis around the world; his white hands, left a good footprint in all parts of the world. Our celebration is a renewal of loyalty to the leadership of the UAE, and a further emphasis on continuing the march of development and making greater efforts to strengthen the position of the State and its leading role locally and internationally, he said.
Inside DCAA
Workshop on accident investigations
T
he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority held an introductory workshop during the International Society of Air Safety Investigators’ Seminar (ISASI 2018) in Dubai. The workshop aimed to introduce the audience to the modern techniques and tools used in the investigation of accidents, most important of which is artificial
intelligence. The audience including representatives of international investigation organisations and bodies and experts in the field of aviation safety, expressed their admiration for the techniques developed by the Authority in the investigation of accidents. The Authority seeks to spread the culture of using artificial intelligence
in investigation processes after its successful launch of the “Integrated Investigation and Notification Programme (IIAN) during GITEX Technology Week 2018. The Programme integrates the intuition of investigators with artificial intelligence to form a system that represents a milestone in the field of aviation safety.
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Inside DCAA
Awareness campaign for launch of Electronic Services by Aircraft Oversight Section
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he DCAA’s Accident Investigation & Aircraft Oversight Department organised a campaign for raising awareness to introduce the electronic services of its Aircraft Oversight Section. Khalid Al Aref, Executive Director, Aviation Safety and Environment Sector, delivered the opening statement in the attendance of Abdulrahim Al Mulla, Executive Director of Corporate Support and Communication Sector, and a number of department directors, heads of sections and other staff members. The campaign aimed to invite a number of airlines, cargo and aircraft maintenance companies, in addition to a number of strategic partners and clients, to a session to raise their awareness on the electronic services provided by the Authority. The electronic services were presented and explained in details, in addition to elaborating on how to apply for these services. This was followed by a Q&A session, where answers were provided by specialists.
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These electronic services contribute to the facilitation of internal and external air, maritime and land transport operations, and help strengthen and upgrade aviation safety.
Inside DCAA
DCAA participates in the Global Smart City Summit
A
delegation from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority participated in the Global Smart City Summit held in Barcelona, as part of the Smart Dubai platform. A number of government entities of Dubai also took part in the summit. The Authority showcased a number of smart and innovative services,
including its Integrated Investigation and Notification Programme (IIAN). It was represented by Abdullah al Hamadi, Director of Accident Investigation and Aircraft Oversight Department, and Mohammed Al Ali, Director of Information Technology Department. During the participation, H.E. Mohammed
Abdullah Al Shamsi, UAE Consul General in Barcelona, visited the Authority’s platform and learned about the services provided. At the end of the Summit, H.E. the Consul General of the State honoured the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority in the presence of Dr Aisha Buti Bin Bisher, Director General of Smart Dubai.
Dubai Fitness Challenge 30x30
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number of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority employees participated in the various sports events and activities on the sideline of Dubai Fitness Challenge 30x30, which included numerous sports activities, competitions and challenges.
December 2018
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World Aviation Safety Summit
New rules, Artificial Intelligence on focus
he 6th annual World Aviation Safety Summit, hosted by the Dubai T Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), discussed some of the biggest safety challenges and trends facing the international industry today. New regulations, safety culture and machine learning have set new challenges for the global aviation industry, the summit was told. These trends include developments in regulation, and how machine learning and artificial intelligence can provide new solutions to aviation safety in the coming years, said speakers at the event. HE Mohammed A Ahli, Director General of DCAA, in his welcome message said the authority is taking a proactive role in implementing new technologies and systems to enhance
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safety with particular focus on the opportunities offered by machine learning and Artificial Intelligence. “With the increasing demand for the use of airspace and growth in the aviation and unmanned aircraft system (UAS), we all must play a part in facilitating collaborative discussion about safety management and incident prevention, as well as comprehensive and effective planning,� he said. The importance of utilising data analytics and improving cyber security across aviation organizations were
the central focus areas for the summit. The summit welcomed more than 300 regional and international experts to discuss a range of topics that are top priorities for safety of the air transport sector. These ranged from ground handling incidents, communications, dangerous goods, flight data, effective management and reduction of flight overlap, safety performance, as well as evaluating best practices within the industry. The 2018 edition of the summit brought together local and international stakeholders, providing a platform to assess the latest aviation
World Aviation Safety Summit
safety procedures and future-proof regulatory frameworks. Attendees and participants included officials from regulatory authorities, airline and airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, pilot associations, safety organizations and air traffic control service providers. Khalid Al Arif, Executive Director Aviation Safety and Environment Sector, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said that this year’s edition of the Summit has succeeded in attracting the world’s leading experts to discuss and exchange experiences on the most important issues related to safety of the aviation sector. He added that Dubai is an industry leader as a global hub for air transport linking the East and West of the world through a worldclass infrastructure with some of the highest global standards. He called for more collaboration around safety management and incident prevention, as well as comprehensive and effective planning. Khalid Al Arif focused on the regional scene. He spoke about how the Middle East air transport industry has witnessed rapid growth and development, which has brought a range of safety challenges. Increasing demand for air routes along with high levels of aircraft and UAV movements in a crowded airspace are some of these challenges.
regulations is needed with those of industry-leading states. Omar Kaddoha, Director of Flight Safety, Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Lebanon, stressed the importance of having a harmonisation strategy to ensure the safety of the air transport sector under the guidance of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Summit delivered a dedicated session that showcased how using artificial intelligence can help investigators in case analysis and provide them with real time insights. The session informed airports and airlines about the capabilities of existing systems and how AI solutions can be enabled to learn from recommendations from the past. DCAA demonstrated
an Integrated Investigation and Notification System (IIAN) and the impact that it has had so far on operations. Abdulla Mohammed Al Blooshi, Head of Accidents Investigation Section, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, commented on how machine learning and AI could have an impact on the future of aviation safety in terms of saving time and creating greater efficiency. Sally Longstaff, Safety Analyst, Group Safety at Emirates, reviewed a range of techniques and methods for obtaining the best possible data for safety decision makers based on statistics. The Head of Flight Safety at NetJets Europe gave a presentation on how flight data can be used to enhance safety management systems.
The developments in regulation session focused on how harmonisation of national law and
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DCAA Interview
Hafidh Masoud Al Zaraei, Head of Aerodrome Safety, Aviation & Airports Safety Department, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
A vision to make UAE the hub for discussion on safety issues
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ur vision is to make the UAE the hub for discussion of safety issues in future. We want people to come to Dubai to learn about safety issues and implement the solutions in their respective countries, said Hafidh Masoud Al Zaraei, Head of Aerodrome Safety, Aviation & Airports Safety Department, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA).
Hafidh spoke to Via Dubai on the sideline of the Sixth World Aviation Safety Summit (WASS) organised by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority in Dubai.
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WASS has been established as the meeting place for thought leaders of the global aviation safety sector to discuss essential safety measures
in order to efficiently manage the processes, threats, risks and calamities facing aviation safety professionals worldwide.
DCAA Interview
What is importance of the safety summit, at a time when there are many challenges such as the increasing number of passengers, aircraft movements and disruptive technology? We want more experts to come and discuss the safety issues and what are the measures to avoid these issues. Going forward, we will have an impeccable safety record.
Safety summit is important because it enhances safety. Yes, the number of passengers is increasing, so are aircraft movements. At the end of the day you need safety. If we don’t have safety in place, we will not be able to run airport operations efficiently and will not be able to attract businesses and people to Dubai. After all, it is business. If we are zero on safety, nobody will come.
What are the highlights of the safety summit?
This is the sixth edition of the summit. We are running around nine workshops. The most important workshops are “the Helipad and Helicopter Awareness”, “Setting Safety Performance Indicators Based on Safety Risk Assessments”, “Safety Leadership - From OK to Great”, “The Intelligent Way in Safety Oversight Functions” and “Just Culture and FAiR3”. There were many panel discussions by different entities and organisations. People came from around the world. This year we have attracted 520 delegates. We are focusing on how to promote safety and safety culture from the regulation perspective and airline perspective and operations perspective.
What are the challenges you foresee in ensuring safety? The only challenge we face is the enormity of operations as Dubai is booming right now, a new airport, Al Maktoum Airport, has come up, increasing the number of aircraft movement, increasing number of passengers. The challenge is to manage them all at one time and ensure safety.
What are your responsibilities as the head of safety? As a safety manager, I have to set the whole plans, processes and KPIs (key performance indicators), for safety and implement them with efficiency. Apart from looking after the aerodrome safety of the two airports, Dubai airport and Al Maktoum airport, we look after helipads and helicopter operations.
Technology is changing every day. New data management, more aircraft movements, dangerous goods handling, How are you equipping yourself to actually meet these challenges? Technology is actually a good thing to facilitate operations efficiently. It makes your life easy. It promotes safety. This kind of events helps you to adopt best practices in the world and get to know new technologies.
How do you inculcate safety culture?
Safety culture is important. It should to be from top to the bottom. Most important thing is the leadership’s commitment for safety culture. You have the best products and services, technology, etc. but if you don’t have sound safety culture, they are of no use as long as there is no safety culture.
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Cover Story
Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum:
New journey towards bright future D ubai International Airport received its one billionth passenger today, marking a new phase in its journey towards a bright future. One billion passengers have made DXB a part of their personal story and helped shape Dubai into a global hub, said His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on receiving the billionth passenger at DXB on December 20, 2018.
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Cover Story
The Indian-origin family from Miami wanted to take a break in Dubai on their way to native place to basically enjoy all the charms and attractions of Dubai which they have heard of so much in the far lesser chill environs than the US city. As they stepped out after clearing the immigration formalities, they were startled finding them being welcomed with garlands and sweets by a bevy of celebrities led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed AlMaktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airlines and Group. It sank soon to them that it is not a case of mistaken identity, but the beginning of a celebration to mark Arjun becoming the 1,000,000,000th passenger of the iconic facility which had only three months earlier celebrated its 58th anniversary by handling a record 974,461,017 passengers. Mobbed by the milling crowds for a selfie of the historic movement after the ceremonial cutting of a mouth-water cake on a lavishly-decorated stage and joining in the accompanying festivities, he and his equally-dazzled family were treated to a host of spectacular Dubai experiences during their stay.
When the nine-year-old Arjun left his school in Orlando, a city in central Florida and home to theme parks like Walt Disney and Universal, for a Christmas-New Year holiday break, he - and his accompanying parents and an elder brother - had no idea of what was awaiting them alighting from an Emirates long-haul flight (EK220) at its dedicated Terminal 3 at the swank Dubai International Airport on December 20th afternoon.
This was the first-ever visit to Dubai by Arjun and his father Venkatesh, mother Ramya and 13-year-old brother Varun. They were thrilled as their arrival was hailed as well by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who congratulated Arjun on his official Twitter handle. He congratulated Dubai Airport for this achievement and thanked the DXB team, led by Sheikh Ahmed for remaining committed to Dubai being the first choice in transporting people across borders, helping them fulfill dreams, meet loved ones, and discover the world’s wonders. He made the official announcement earlier
and gave the airport’s billionth warm welcome to Arjun and his family which got an incredible four-day Dubai holiday experience. Remarked Sheikh Ahmed: “This landmark billionth passenger achievement is the result of team work and collaboration, and special thanks goes out to each and every member of the airport community who have played a role in this journey. Of course, we would not be in this position if it weren’t for the visionary leadership of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, both of whom foresaw the development of Dubai into a global centre for trade, tourism and commerce enabled by a fast-growing and world-leading aviation sector with top-flight airport infrastructure.” The billionth customer is arguably the most significant in a long litany of achievements since the airport first opened in September 1960 with a tiny terminal building and a runway of compacted sand. Today, the hub is widely considered a benchmark for its quality infrastructure, passenger and cargo volumes and high service levels despite unrelenting growth. DXB handled an average of 7.5 million customers every month and last year broke its own traffic record thrice with more than 8.3 million customers in a month. Surprising it may be for many, but DXB reached the 500 millionth mark in December 2011 after a 51 years journey, but clocked the remaining 500 million in just seven years. Over the last decade, the airport had opened seven major facilities with an investment of US$12 billion. Five of those have been at DXB including Terminal 3, Concourses A, B and D and the complete refurbishment and expansion of Terminal 2.
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UAE in Focus
Upward Mode
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usiness Aviation in the region has been a real success story, having been realised in just over a decade. The MEBAA Show 2018 attracted more than 450 exhibitors and 34 stunning business jets on static display at its biennial eight edition. Business Aviation originated about 55 years ago when the first purposebuilt business jet flew in the US, which even today continues leading the world accounting for over 50 per cent of the globe’s total turnover of business aviation and its airplanes. Business Aviation is now a wellestablished air transport sector in Europe. It is the third largest market segment in Europe, after the traditional scheduled and low-cost segments. In the Middle East too, Business Aviation continues to grow as the demand for efficient, flexible, and reliable modes of transportation continues to rise,
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as more and more businesses start to expand their presence and venture into new markets. The business jet industry is expected to experience strong growth, according to Honeywell’s Global Business Aviation Outlook. It forecasts up to 7,700 new business jet deliveries worth US$251 billion from 2019 to 2028. The share of projected five-year global demand attributed to the Middle East and Africa is four percent. As many as 11,247 business aircraft worth US$260 billion were delivered over the past 10 years, including 7,800 business jets.
By 2020, the Middle East’s business jet fleet size is projected to grow to 1375 and the Business Aviation sector will be worth around US$1.3 billion. The Middle East’s top 10 commercial airlines make up a total of over 1,145 aircraft. The Middle East’s business aviation market is expected to reach have over 1,375 registered business jets by 2020. Business Aviation in the region has been a real success story realized in a matter of over a decade. The report also noted that the UAE will experience a surge of private jet travel due to the upcoming Expo 2020 in Dubai. The UAE currently has 147 private aircraft,
UAE in Focus
providing business people with more than 50,000 flights in 2017. The UAE accounts for 26 per cent of the Middle East’s business jet fleet, with Saudi Arabia being the largest market Saudi Arabia. Business aviation in the Middle East continues to grow at a rate exceeding the growth rate of traditional markets. At the heart of this growth is Dubai. There are five business aviation airports in the UAE, but Dubai South – the development around Al Maktoum International, is becoming the chief gateway. The credit for promoting and protecting Business Aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region undoubtedly goes to the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) which began in 2006 as a non-forprofit organisation and a member of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) with the mission to gather, understand and communicate the needs and benefits of the industry.
to its full as skies are clearer for it to fly ahead. The exhibition-cum-knowledge sharing platform that MEBAA organizes in Dubai continues to maintain its magnetic pull, drawing reputed companies and organisations towards it along with decision-makers and other professionals to know the industry’s pulse and chart future growth agenda.
The potential expansion of Business Aviation operations in the Middle East remains strong and needs to be tapped
The 8th edition of MEBAA Show was held at the Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA). Held for three days
from December 10, it brought focus on the region which represents a major chunk of the world’s business jet fleet, with 480 aircraft, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer. Representing the major players in the region, the association plays a key role in trying to shape legislation and develop the sector as it remains extremely bullish about the role the region will be playing in the global market in the years ahead. The MEBAA Show 2018 was opened by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. He also unveiled the Aviation One office complex, Dubai South’s flagship commercial property during his visit to the Dubai South Chalet. Dubai South is the world’s first real aviation eco-system. The ceremony was attended among others by Jamal Al Hai, Member of UAE Federal National Council and Deputy Chairman of Dubai Airports, Khalifa Al Zaffin , Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Ali Al Naqbi , MEBAA’s Founder and Executive Chairman.
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UAE in Focus
Dubai Airports and Execujet team up to support Handi-flight
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ubai Airports, Execujet and Lions Clubs International officials gave a warm Dubai welcome to the two determined aviators who are piloting two small aircraft around the globe in a bid to raise awareness for the inclusion of people with disabilities. The project, organised by Lions Clubs International, has a clear objective of globally promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities to combat discrimination and to raise funds for the association Humanity & Inclusion. The two pilots, both of whom use wheelchairs, will
cover 80,000 kilometres in nine months across 40 countries and six continents via 150 staging points. The support team to this initiative are all former members of the Solar Impulse Project and all volunteers. “Dubai Airports is an enthusiastic advocate for the rights and inclusion of people of determination in society. We are proud to be associated with this worthy cause and salute these pilots for their skill and commitment to this important mission,” said Essa Al Shamsi, Vice President of Terminal Operations at Dubai Airports.
Al Maktoum International’s expansion ‘delayed’ for five years
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ubai is expecting its second airport, Al Maktoum International, to serve 130 passengers a year by 2030. The emirate’s airport planners have delayed the construction of the Phase Two Midfield Terminal at Al Maktoum International (Dubai World Central) for five years, a report said. This apparently is due to difficulties in
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raising finance and sluggish scheduled airline traffic continue to dog the airport’s immediate future. Delays to DWC’s expansion largely result from the runaway success of Dubai International (DXB), which became the world’s busiest international airport in 2015. Now, plans call for new “efficiencies” to increase capacity at DXB to around 120 million a year within five years.
UAE airlines looking for ways to revamp cabin space
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irlines are increasingly looking for ways to revamp cabin space and provide a mix of seating options for passengers, both to enhance airline revenues and better serve their customers.
About 20 airlines offer premium economy seats globally according to SkyTrax, which surveys millions of travellers and ranks airlines globally. Air New Zealand’s premium economy class is ranked number one globally ahead of Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific among others.
Air Arabia gets new brand identity
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ir Arabia, the Middle East’s largest low-cost carrier, has unveiled a new brand identity after celebrating 15 years of operations. The unveiling took place during a launch ceremony at the Air Arabia hangar in Sharjah International Airport. Air Arabia launched its first flight in October 2003 and has since grown to currently serving over 155 routes from multiple hubs spread across the UAE, Morocco and Egypt, served by a fleet of 53 aircraft, with plans for further expansion in 2019. Over 80 million passengers flew with it till date. The airline has maintained its symbol, the seagull, modernising it and further spreading its wings reflecting the carrier’s growth and outlook while staying true to its original look.
Oman Airports
Gateways to Beauty Oman Airports
and opportunity Gateways to Beauty and opportunity
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DUBAI DUTY FREE
DDF to grow in line with Dubai’s aviation development plans
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ia Dubai talks to Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free (DDF), on its core operations, expansion and 35th anniversary celebrations’ sale
In the past year, DDF has returned to sales growth following strong performance in a number of categories. To what do you attribute these impressive figures?
2018 has been a fantastic year for Dubai Duty Free. We have continuously grown our business and are happy to see a double-digit increase for the first half. There are a number of factors behind the sales growth, including the refurbishment of Concourse C, which will be fully completed shortly and other ongoing projects. With new retail areas now operational and ongoing retail developments coming on stream at both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International, we are confident that we will reach the US$2 billion mark by the end of 2018.
What have been some of the DDF’s other highlights over the past 12 months? Overall it has been a good year for DDF, we have grown our business and recorded year-end sales of US$1.93
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free and Colm McLoughlin, EVC & CEO of Dubai Duty Free with the Gulf Business Awards
billion last year and expecting to reach the US$2 billion by year-end. The retail operation saw major investment in terms of growth and expansion which included the opening of the Perfumes & Cosmetics, Liquor & Tobacco and Food Plus shops in Concourse C Terminal 1 in December 2017. This represents part of a fifteen-month project that will greatly enhance the retail offer when completed in full in the summer of 2018.
Dubai Duty Free management and staff with the Frontier Award at Terminal 3 arrivals
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Around 1,500sqm of existing retail areas in Concourse B Terminal 3 is undergoing refurbishment including Sports, Perfumes, Sunglasses, Electronics, Fashion, and Lifestyle, which will be completed at the end of the year. The Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA) Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) has also completed the redevelopment of the existing Departures Area, including a new/ refurbished Gifts from Dubai, Electronics, Perfumes & Cosmetics, and Liquor & Tobacco shops. We have been recognised by several global awards which bear testimony to DDF’s retail success. In 2017 alone, the operation was presented with 25 awards including the Frontier Award for ‘Airport Retailer of The Year - Single Location’ which was won by the retailer for the eighth time.
DUBAI DUTY FREE
In terms of our global sponsorship programme, we have continued to support major sporting events which have generated an estimated US$1 billion worth of media exposure for Dubai and the Dubai Duty Free brand. The addition of the DDF Irish Open golf tournament, held in association with the Rory Foundation, was a great addition to our portfolio. The tournament, which was won by Scotland’s Russell Knox, is now part of the Rolex Series and offers prize money of US$7 million. Our DDF Tennis Championships, which is by far our biggest sporting investment, is now on its 26th year and was won by Elina Svitolina and Roberto Bautista Agut in 2018.
With technology developing fast, what DDF has been working on to improve and even enhance its customers’ shopping experience?
The operation is currently undertaking a multi-million dollar investment in upgrading and enhancing the online offer which will be rolled out next year. This will enhance the E-commerce customer experience as well as adding functionality and implementing processes both in-store and online. DDF has also launched a major digital marketing initiative as part of its ‘Road to 3 billion dollars’ project. This initiative will see DDF invest in both people
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships ATP Week
and technology to increase its digital marketing to its customers and to improve its customer engagement and customer service, and is excited about the opportunity to reach the 90 million passengers using the airport in a more targeted way.
Are there any plans for physical expansion or to broaden your offering? What else we can expect from the company in the coming months?
We have a lot of expansion and renovation plans in Concourse C, Concourse B and at AMIA. In June, we completed the first phase refurbishment of the Electronics shop in Concourse B and opened a new Watches and Electronics shop in Concourse C in July, which have all gone smoothly and we are very happy with the outcome of all these new developments. In addition, Concourse C has also opened a new Food, Liquor and Tobacco shop which are already creating a buzz among the passengers. Other projects currently ongoing and scheduled to open this year are the new Gold, Jewellery, Gifts from Dubai and Currency Exchange and Victoria’s Secret in CC, CB and CA. In Concourse B, we have opened a new Bulgari retail area last December and has done very well while Sunglasses
and Electronics shops were recently refurbished. In Concourse A - Business Class lounge (Terminal 3), the DDF Concierge Shop project is currently ongoing and completion is expected later this year. When completed, this will provide travelers with a bespoke service where they can order products from the comfort of the lounge with their goods being delivered in the lounge or at the gate. We are also excited with the opening of a DDF shop in the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) in October this year. QE2 is the Middle East’s first floating hotel and is located in Port Rashid. Another project in the pipeline is the expansion of Liquor shop in T3 Arrivals shop 4 in the beginning of 2019. The shop is expected to double in size extending to the Arrivals hall and thereby will drive more customer footfall inside the shop. We are highly optimistic that with the ongoing projects we should be able to continue the organic growth for DDF.
DDF is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Where do you hope to see yourself in the next 35 years?
We have been very fortunate over the past 35 years to have the support of the Government of Dubai, and in particular that of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports and Dubai Duty Free. The fact that the operation has grown to be the single largest airport retailer in the world with turnover of US$2 billion means a great deal to us and we remain committed to driving sales. We, along with many other entities, are equally committed to promoting Dubai to a global audience and aims to retain Dubai’s reputation as a leading business, leisure and sporting capital.
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DUBAI DUTY FREE
In the next 35 years, we will ensure that we grow in line with the aviation development plans of Dubai and that we continue attractive and competitive retail offering to the growing number of passengers. We will continue to achieve this by working closely with other stakeholders at Dubai Airports and with our suppliers and by using all means of communication, including digital and social media, to highlight our products and services.
In December, DDF will mark its 35th anniversary. What plans do you have to celebrate the occasion?
Plans are in place to make our 35th anniversary memorable to everyone. The anniversary day will be marked by a 25% discount offer on a wide range of merchandise, for what has become an annual celebration for all passengers travelling through Dubai International and Al Maktoum International.
2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open - Ballyliffin Golf Club, Co. Donegal
As part of the celebrations, DDF will ensure a party-like atmosphere throughout the retail operation. We will also conduct a Millennium Millionaire draw, a Finest Surprise Luxury Car and motorbike draw and a series of other
promotional activities that will involve our customers, suppliers and staff. That is our way of saying thank you for helping us achieve such fantastic sales results over the years.
DDF’s 35th anniversary pre-holiday sale from December 18
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ubai Duty Free will expand its annual anniversary promotion for 72 hours pre-Christmas sale for three days from December 18. The airport retailer will offer a special 25% discount on a wide range of products to mark its 35th anniversary celebration. The offer will be available for all the departing, transiting and arriving passengers at Dubai International and Al Maktoum International. Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of DDF, said: “The DDF anniversary promotion is now a highly-anticipated event with many travelers choosing to travel on the days when the 25 per cent discount is offered. I think it would be terrific
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to break the daily sales record on the anniversary day.” DDF will ensure a party-like atmosphere throughout the retail operation.
The anniversary discount offer proved to be successful since it began with DDF’s 20th anniversary in 2003.
DUBAI DUTY FREE
DUBAI DUTY FREE TIME LINE 1983 – 2018
1983
Dubai Duty Free opened on 20th December
1985
DDF won its first Frontier Award for Airport Duty Free Operator of the Year
1988
Retail area was completely overhauled and new merchandise introduced.
1991
The new and revamp duty-free operation catered more than adequately to passengers
1984
A year after commencing operations, DDF ended 1984 with total annual sales of US$20 million
1987
DDF Arrivals Shop opened and offered a range of gifts and other items
1989
Unveiled its dramatic expansion that was officially inaugurated by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who was then UAE Minister of Defense
1992
1993
DDF crossed the US$100 million mark during the course of the year
1998
Built the DDF Tennis Stadium
The first DDF Men’s Open was held at The Aviation Club
DDF opened a retail operation in Terminal 2, a major stage in its growth plans
2000
Welcomed the new Millennium with an additional 5,400 square metres of retail space at the newly-opened Sheikh Rashid Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport
2004
Inauguration of ‘Gifts from Dubai’ in Terminal 1 with a classy range of souvenirs and local craft items
2008
DDF unveiled its retail operation in Emirates’ Terminal 3 covering over 8,000 sqm to include Departures, Arrivals and landside shops
1995 1999
Launched the Millennium Millionaire Promotion to win US$1 million
2003
Gold shop inauguration at Terminal 1
2005
DDF opened its new Arrivals shop in Terminal 1
2013
2013
Phased opening of Concourse A with over 8,000 sqm of prime retail area brining the operation’s retail space to 26,000 sqm at Dubai International Airport
2016
Opening of DDF retail area in Concourse D, covering 7,000 sqm there bringing the operation’s total retail facility to 34,000sqm
2018
DDF opened its new Liquor and Tobacco and Perfumes and Cosmetics sections in Concourse C to complement the retail area around the Control Tower
Opening of 2,500 sqm of retail space at the new Al Maktoum International Airport, which will eventually become the world’s largest airport
Opening of DDF retail area around the Control Tower in Terminal 1 – Concourse C.
DDF celebrates its 35th anniversary on December 20
2016 2017
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ADP IngĂŠnierie
Airport – A Different Business Altogether D
id you know that there is a videogame where you can build your own airport city? It is called Airport City. Truth be told, it is not a game in real life as the airport holds strong challenges and ambitious goals for the city and the region it serves. But as you come to play, you get to decide how your airport will be built, what services it will propose inside and outside the airport and all your choices will affect the viability of your airport and the impact on the region. Strange! It suddenly looks a lot like real life. Airport cities and the city nearby create a strong symbiosis where one feeds the other and vice versa. And we are not only talking about tourism there, and the traditional role of the airport. It goes way beyond the simple flights departing and arriving. Today, the airport can also offer a large portfolio of services which do not limit themselves to aeronautical anymore and act as an enabler to other industries. The airport becomes part of the city as well as an open door to the world for the benefits of its visitors, either locals or travelers. And with climate change, these mega-structures must adopt new ways to ensure the sustainability
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of their operations. Environment matters are at the core of cities and airport cities successful development. Innovation will then come as a solution provider and provide innovative technologies, ways of working to optimize and reduce airports carbon footprint. Direct contributions to the economy
Employment
Airports are huge providers of employment in the region. As an example, approximately 100,000 people work for the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and it climbs to 235,000 in the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris – Le Bourget area. In Singapore, the aviation sector provides 119,000 jobs to which 78,000 jobs can be added as bound to touristic activity generated by the airport. European airports and associated aviation activity create and facilitate a total of almost 12.5 million jobs.
ADP Ingénierie
Quartier d’affaires Coeur d’Orly copyright ArteFactoryLab
The size of the infrastructure is an explanation but the proximity of the airport which remains the most efficient structure for international
connections draws the implementation of companies in the surrounding areas to benefit from the transport services. It creates an economic dynamism in the region. It makes the region bigger and generates investments (transportation, construction…). 157,100 jobs were supplied by Dubai airport in 2013.
area and thus on different matters. Transportation, sustainability, land-use are all discussed in common for the three Parisian airports of Groupe ADP.
Economy
The airport is indeed a key factor in the region’s sustainability. Flights are not the greener way of travelling even though airports have made huge efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.
Airports are hubs, not only because they connect flights to other cities but because they are home to many services and real economic contributors to the region. European airports contribute to €675 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year – that’s just over 4% of the entire European economy. The aviation sector contributes S$14.2 billion (5.4%) to Singaporean GDP. Aviation is an indispensable catalyst for the growth of Dubai’s tourism industry, which directly contributed $10.2bn to Dubai’s economy. The aviation sector contributes AED 61.3 billion (6.2%) to UAE GDP.
Environment
There are strong links between the airports and the region where they are located. As the airport evolves and grows, it cannot do it without the region’s consent and support. This is why dialogue is always the core structure of such partnerships between the city and the airport city. Atlanta International Airport, one of the biggest airports in the world, has embraced its environment in its Aerotropolis Atlanta project for the development of its airport city.
Coeur d’Orly - vue aérienne sud copyright ArteFactoryLab
Groupe ADP and the region grow together and work hand in hand to develop the infrastructures to better serve the airport and the cities in the
Heathrow airport knows difficulties and delays to launch its 3rd runway project as local authorities and inhabitants are opposed to the project.
They act on their soil and set up actions to preserve their environment and the relationships with the locals. Groupe ADP have their very own Environmental and Sustainable Development Resource Centres. Their purpose is to develop human relationships, mutual awareness and understanding between the local residents and the players in the air transport sector. Dubai airport collects and recycles thousands of tons of paper, carton, plastic and aluminum cans across our airports, recently implemented more efficient lighting, inside the airport and on the airfield and now uses flow arrestors to control water use… Airports have to be turned towards their environment to make the best out of their configuration and grow stronger with the region. Only a strong collaboration can lead to a successful future. Airport specialists in engineering, project management and planning make sure to guide airports in the right directions as they propose solutions to improve their infrastructures while growing in a sustainable manner. Synergies between the airport city and the city will drive growth to both systems.
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Middle East News
Kuwait chosen for flying car premiere
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fter the successful introduction of the PAL-V’s production model earlier this year, Kuwait got the honour to be the first to have the Middle East premiere for PAL-V which had been defined as the mostfeasible flying car in the pipeline. Combining flying and driving in one vehicle has been a dream for the past one hundred years. The question no longer is if a flying car will cruise the skies, but when. The overall interest toward the PAL-V Liberty by customers, investors and media, has been beyond expectations.
PAL-V is finalising its last steps of pre-production certification: compliance demonstration. Mike Stekelenburg, PAL-V’s Chief Engineer said: “We deliberately chose to
design, engineer and manufacture our flying car with proven instead of immature technologies, complying with existing road and air regulations (EASA and FAA).
IATA forecasts 290 million passengers in ME in 20 years
IATA says the Middle East will grow strongly (five per cent) and will see an extra 322 million passengers a year on routes to, from and within the region by 2036. The total market size will be 517 million passengers.
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he International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents as many as 275 airlines comprising 83 per cent of global air traffic, forecasts an extra 290 million air passengers in the Middle East region within the next 20 years. By 2037, the region will see an extra 290 million air passengers on routes to, from and within the region by 2037 as demand in the region will grow strongly with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4 percent.
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The Airports Council International’s (ACI) World Airport Traffic Forecast (WATF) for more than 110 countries up to 2040, Of those country markets that handled over 50 million passengers in 2017, Vietnam, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China are projected to be the fastest-growing from 2017 to 2040. The Middle East has a territorial extension of more than 6.8 million square kilometres, with an estimated population of 260 million inhabitants. It is composed of 15 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria and Turkey.
ME airlines spell out their future preparedness
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t the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) Middle East & Africa 2018 event, the region’s leading airlines came together to discuss what they to expect in the coming time. Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai said after the carrier partnered with Emirates, there are 80 unique destinations on which the two airlines can combine. When asked about what flydubai will look like in ten years, he replied that the airline may well be operating a second type of aircraft. As for the aviation industry, he hopes that it will flourish even further in the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “I
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Opinion
Emerging economies to drive global growth A ccurate forecasting of future air service demand is crucial for airports for planning their capacity requirements. As the infrastructure projects are costly and often disruptive, a datadriven understanding of future demand—such as the expected number of aircraft movements, passenger traffic throughput, and air cargo volumes— is required for effective decision making.
In 2040, an estimated 20 per cent of all air cargo will be handled in the US. China and the UAE, predicted to be the second and third largest markets, will together handle another fifth of the 203.4 million tonnes of global air cargo volumes. The surging air transport demand threatens to outstrip the current and planned airport infrastructure in many regions around the world.
Toward this end, the Airports Council International (ACI) World has been at the forefront of publishing data. It has come out with latest edition of the World Airport Traffic Forecasts (WATF) which covers over 100 countries, including economic grouping like BRICS, G7 and MINT, and presents detailed metrics for passenger, cargo and aircraft movements up to 2040.
These physical capacity considerations and potential bottlenecks in air transport infrastructure pose challenges to the global industry in accommodating the strong forecast future demand. Geopolitical tensions and protectionist policies that retreat from further economic integration and air transport liberalization could also have an adverse effect. The industry must come together to respond to these challenges and help to ensure communities continue to reap the social and economic benefits of air service growth. Policy at a national and global level should be focused on facilitating sustainable growth over the long term.
The study forecasts passenger traffic doubling by 2034, growing from 8.3 billion total passengers today to 17 billion in 2034 and almost 21 billion by 2040 - a projected growth rate of 4.3 per cent annually. The prospects for growth in the passenger market over the short, medium and long term, remain robust. China is predicted to become the largest passenger market with just under four billion passengers which will represent a 19 per cent share of the global passenger traffic market.
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Angela Gittens Director General ACI World
Opinion
Be Better E
mirates Airline has recently launched its bold new brand promise: “Fly Better”. When I read the news, I reminisced about their out-going “Hello, Tomorrow” campaign, which inspired people to greet tomorrow’s unlimited potential, now. “Hello” is a greeting – a warm welcome to a person, place, or experience. “Tomorrow” is a time, a place, a state of mind—the unlimited possibility of the future. In just two words, Emirates captured the essence of leadership and of life itself, inviting people to seize the day and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead. There is a lesson here for all of us: Tomorrow we can be anywhere, everywhere, and anything. As a leader, this means you must see what’s possible for your people, even when they don’t, and help them to turn that possibility to reality. Now, Emirates might be waving goodbye to “Hello, Tomorrow,” but its optimism remains. With “Fly Better” they have taken their core service and pledged to improve it for all. Once again, in two short words, the company is delivering an inspirational promise – and you can do the same. Step one: replace “fly” with your own core business. Step two: add “better.” And, voila!
the airline’s inaugural flight from Dubai to Karachi, but its campaign to be better started long ago. Emirates was the first airline to introduce personal screens in every seat in every class. They led the way for better international telephone and WiFi services onboard. They pioneered private, first-class suites and showers. With its status already cemented among the aviation greats, it might have been easy for Emirates to grow complacent, but through its “Fly Better” campaign, I am glad to see that complacency couldn’t be further from their minds. The airline’s new message is a bold promise to the customer and a much-needed reminder to their 100,000 employees that their purpose is to deliver better experiences in every class, every time.
Dr.Tommy Weir Founder-EMLC Leadership Ai Lab Author-Leadership Dubai Style
Frankly, Emirates’ promise is a reminder to all of us that we should be leading our employees towards improvement. This is a foundational leadership habit. Don’t just lead, lead better!
The drive to be better is hardwired into Emirates’ DNA. It’s latest brand promise was unveiled on the same day—October 25—as
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Airlines
Delta latest to ditch single-use plastics on board
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elta Air Lines is planning to replace plastic straws and stirrers with bamboo and birch wood versions, mirroring a broader industry trend to reduce single-use plastics. Starting in mid-2019, the secondlargest US airline, which flies more than 180 million passengers a year, will stop wrapping amenities kits for international business class travellers in plastic and stop using plastic straws and stirring sticks throughout the cabin.
Air India launches red-eye domestic flights
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ndia’s loss-making flag carrier, Air India, has introduced redeye flights with fares lower than the normal fares on sectors like Delhi-Goa-Delhi, Delhi-CoimbatoreDelhi and Bangalore-AhmedabadBangalore. These services have daily operations. A red-eye flight departs generally late at night and arrives early morning. Because of their low fares, these flights are quite popular abroad, especially in the US and Europe. These late night flights are offered at fares considerably lower than normal and help travellers beat peak hour city traffic as well as save on hotel charges. Domestic passengers, pressed for time and scouting for bargain options, can look forward to earlymorning flights.
Hainan Airlines to fly Beijing-Oslo non-stop in 2019
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ainan Airlines has announced plans to launch non-stop flights between Beijing and Oslo from next year, in what will be the first direct air connection between China and Norway. The service will also be Hainan Airlines’ first non-stop Nordic connection. Frequency, schedule and operating aircraft have so far yet to be announced. Hainan Airlines has different aircraft in its fleet that could potentially operate the route. The Chinese carrier has been aggressively expanding its international long-haul network and has set its sights on launching new routes to multiple cities in the US, notably Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles. Hainan Airlines is the largest civilianrun air transport company in China, the fourth-largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People’s Republic and the tenth-largest airline in Asia in terms of passengers carried.
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JAL to operate Seattle-Tokyo service from March 2019
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apan Airlines (JAL) will start nonstop Seattle-Tokyo service starting in March 2019, joining Delta and All Nippon Airways (ANA) of Japan which already serve that route. As a partner of Alaska Airlines, JAL’s move will help strengthen Alaska’s global connection network. Seven new international airlines – Virgin Atlantic, Eurowings, Norwegian, Aeromexico, Air France, Thomas Cook Airlines and Aer Lingus – have begun service to Sea-Tac in the past two years. Next year, in addition to JAL, Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong is set to begin flying into Seattle. The flag carrier of Japan operates an all-Boeing fleet of 164 aircraft. JAL’s fleet is projected at 230 aircraft at the end of fiscal 2020. It is due to introduce the Airbus A350-900 on the main-line routes in FY2019 and new aircraft such as the Embraer 190 and ATR 42600 on the regional routes. In March, JAL announced that it will serve 500 cities around the world by fiscal 2027 in an ambitious expansion of its network aimed at the influx of international tourists to Japan.
Cargo & Logistics
Airbus forecasts freighter fleet growth of 65% through 2037
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uropean planemaker, Airbus, has forecast that the global freighter fleet will grow by 1,072 aircraft to total 2,722 in-service freighters, for an increase of 65 per cent, during the next 20 years. This year’s forecast is even more optimistic than last year’s, when Airbus forecasted 49.7 per
cent growth to a fleet of 2,410 freighters by 2036. The company cited “private consumption increasing 2.4 times in emerging economies, higher disposable incomes, and a near doubling of the middle classes globally” for the dramatic increase.
Boeing: Air cargo growth will double over 20 years
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merican planemaker, Boeing, expects air cargo traffic to double in the next 20 years, driven by growing global e-commerce volumes, especially in Asia. In its World Air Cargo Forecast, it said goods transported by air, including perishables, electronics and pharmaceutical products are some of the fastest-growing trade flows around the world. The jet manufacturer projects more than 1,100 standard-body and 500
medium wide-body passenger airplanes will be converted into freighters to handle increasing cargo volumes. Boeing projects the air cargo market will sustain a long term growth rate of 4.2 percent, with e-commerce as one of the main drivers. Global e-commerce sales are expected to reach US$2.8 trillion this year. By 2021, the e-commerce market could reach almost US$5 trillion.
UPS gets full ownership of unit in India
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nited Parcel Services (UPS), an American multinational package delivery and supply chain management company, has made further investments to attain the full ownership in its express services unit in India. The company previously held a majority position in an express services joint venture, which exclusively served UPS’s international express small package shipping business in India. UPS helps large businesses and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in India expand trade with customers throughout the global marketplace. UPS’s move to obtain full ownership, along with planned network upgrades, demonstrates the company’s commitment to invest strategically in high-growth international markets. The World Bank has predicted that the global economy will expand by US$6.5 trillion between 2017 and 2019. India will be the third-highest growth country with its gross domestic product (GDP) expected to account for 8.6 per cent of this expansion.
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Technology
Blockchain an emerging tech priority for airports and airlines
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lockchain is fast emerging as the priority technology for future exploration among the airport and airline CIOs globally, according to new research released by SITA. The 2018 SITA IT Air Transport IT Insights shows that blockchain offers multiple use cases ranging from passenger identification to ticketing, asset tracking and managing frequent flyers programs, all of which help the various stakeholders in the industry work better together.
Flight tracking industry set to evolve rapidly One of the key benefits of blockchain technology is the ability to have multi-enterprise applications. These work across multiple organisations locking data immutably into the blockchain rather than having individual applications running separately and exchanging data on a case-bycase basis.
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The industry fears that if the problem isn’t tackled soon, the growing number
of flights and the complexity of operations will only make the problem worse. However, according to SITA Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program Director Stephane Cheikh, technology holds the solution. It is something that airlines and airports are exploring. According to SITA’s 2018 Air Transport Insights research, AI is one of the emerging technologies offering future strategic and operational benefits. The research found that 66 percent of airlines are implementing or planning predictive analytics capabilities by 2021, while 79 percent of airports are using or planning to use AI for predictive analysis to improve operational efficiency by that same year.
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he flight-tracking industry is set not only to allow operators to meet ICAO’s deadlines for normal and distress tracking this year, but also to evolve rapidly to provide powerful new capabilities. The industry’s commercial prospects have been boosted by requirements mandated for aircraft operators by ICAO’s Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in March 2014.
This is how this technology can provide a ‘single source of truth’ to all stakeholders.
Connected cabin to revolutionize the airline experience ccording to Inmarsat, global flight delays cost the industry US$123 billion per annum. In fact, IATA data suggests that 24 percent of the 26 million flights each year are delayed.
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Heathrow’s incentive for electric-hybrid aircraft flights
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ondon Heathrow will waive up to £1 million in landing fees for the first airline to introduce a regular electric-hybrid aircraft service from the UK gateway. The figure is based on not paying landing fees for an entire year at Heathrow. It claims that it is looking to leverage its role as one of the world’s leading airports to drive sustainable change across the industry. There are already more than 100 electric aircraft projects underway across the world and current industry thinking suggests electric aircraft could touch down at major international airports by 2030.
Tourism
Russian visitors to Gulf to increase 125 % by 2023
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he number of Russian tourists travelling to the six Arabian Gulf countries is expected to increase 125 per cent from 933,000 in 2018 to 2.1 million in 2023, according to data published The latest research published by Colliers International predicts the increase in Russian tourists to the GCC to create an extra 2.9 million room nights over the coming five years. Looking at the economic drivers, Russia’s links with the GCC have strengthened in recent years due to the introduction of additional airline routes, relaxed visa regulations for Russian nationals, new generation of leisure attractions and retail destinations and a broad range of hotels and resorts across the region. Traditionally, the GCC has always been popular with Russian tourists. However, in 2015 the GCC experienced a large drop in the number of Russian visitors, which was a reflection of volatility in the financial and energy markets. Russia continues to be one of the top 10 source markets for the UAE, with 530,000 Russian visitors entering the UAE in 2017, a 121 per cent increase from the previous year.
Chinese tourists changing the travel landscape
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efore 1995, Chinese citizens weren’t allowed to leave the country, save for family visits to adjoining Asian countries, trips by government officials, business and cultural exchange trips. In the mid-1990s, it decided to loosen travel constraints by introducing the Approved Destination Status (ADS) program, which facilitated ordinary citizens to venture abroad on vacation. Since then, China’s thirst for travel has snowballed.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that Chinese outbound tourism expenditure grew to US$261 billion in 2016 - A cool 21 percent of the world market, an increase of 12 percent from 2015 and 11 times the amount spent a decade earlier. Chinese tourism has boosted several tourist destinations and routes.
Santorini set to limit tourism in 2019
Helsinki and Lyon selected for Smart Tourism titles
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he European Commission has chosen two cities to hold the title of ‘European Capitals of Smart Tourism in 2019 and recognises a further four cities for their outstanding achievements in: accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation and cultural heritage and creativity. Helsinki and Lyon have been selected as the winners of the first edition of the EU’s European Capital of Smart Tourism competition. Four cities were the winners in the specific categories: Accessibility (Málaga), Sustainability (Ljubljana), Digitalisation (Copenhagen) and Cultural Heritage & Creativity (Linz).
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antorini, Greece’s mostpopular island for fantastic beaches, nightlife, spectacular scenery and an active volcano, had been flocked by about two million people last year, but plans have been out about limiting the tourist numbers. Reports claim there were days when up to 18,000 visitors on cruise ships alone were seen disembarking at the island’s port, which is a high number considering that only about 15,000 people actually live on the island. Santorini is struggling to cope and the ecology of the island is at risk. Beginning 2019, the island will cap cruise arrivals at 8,000, hoping to curb a flow of day travellers, which is putting too much strain on infrastructure and supplies.
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