Dubai will host the world’s largest airport industry fair in May

With the civil aviation industry almost fully recovered after the steepest drop in passenger numbers due to the second pandemic of the 21st century, airports around the world are preparing to handle a major boom in air travel until 2030 through expansions and remodeling.

The Middle East aviation market, valued at $60 billion in 2023, is projected to grow substantially through 2030. Air connectivity in the Middle East saw over 26 percent growth in 2022 compared to 2019.

Middle East airports are expected to handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040, more than double the figure of 405 million passengers in 2019. They will be required to invest around $151 billion in capacity expansion. The region, with more than 110 airports, is among the world’s fastest growing aviation markets.

Airport developers, officials and suppliers from around the world will descend on Dubai in mid-May 2024 to take part in the world’s largest annual event dedicated to the airport industry. The 23rd edition of the three-day B2B event at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), the Middle East’s leading exhibition and convention centre, will be attended by more than 150 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and 7,500 visitors from more than 30 countries. The Airport Show will have shared events: ATC Forum, Middle East Airport Security, and the 11th edition of Global Airport Leaders Forum (GALF).

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, and Patron of the Airport Show saying,

“The business event will provide industry professionals from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa region with the opportunity to see innovations in airport sustainability, digitalization and urban air mobility.”

He added,

“Airport Show will continue to be the best place to select and source cutting-edge technologies and innovative products to improve airport operations.”

Organized by RXPart of RELX, a global provider of information-based analysis and decision-making tools that organizes around 400 events in 22 countries across 42 industry sectors, the show is supported by leading players in the aviation industry, including the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). , Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) and dnata.

May Ismail, RX Events Director, fixed,

“The airport industry will be back operating at full capacity when we meet in 2024. The pace of growth and expansion that stopped has returned at a phenomenal pace. Projects taking off again suggest there will be no end to expansion and growth. “What had been in the background is now in the forefront.”

According to a CAPA report, 425 major construction projects were underway at existing airports around the world, with investments of $450 billion. There were 225 new airport projects and more than 70 percent of the investment was in Asia Pacific. There were 1,074 airport investors, of which 258 were airport operators, groups or consortia. Around 68 percent of all projects were terminal-based, whether extensions or new developments. A report has revealed that the global airport construction market grew to $1.14 trillion in 2023 and would reach $1.8 trillion by 2030.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international travelers for nine years, is also increasing capacity and facilities to make the hub more impressive. DXB, which now serves 250 destinations in 104 countries through 95 airlines, has mega expansion plans that will involve investments of up to $2. 7 billion. Improvements in capacity and service level over the next ten years have been necessary as its base airlines ordered another 120 aircraft: 90 Boeing-777s for Emirates and 30 Boeing-787s for flydubai.

Sharjah, home to the Arabian Gulf’s first airport, has begun work on an AED1.2 billion ($327 million) terminal expansion that will increase the airport’s capacity to 20 million passengers a year. The expansion project will separate arrivals and departure areas and improve their systems and amenities. It is the largest phase of the expansion work being carried out at a total cost of AED 2.4 billion and is expected to be completed in 2027. The improvements will include additional self-check-in kiosks, electronic boarding gates, a large waiting and eating facilities. and a hotel for passengers in transit. Sharjah Airport, home to the MENA region’s largest LCC Air Arabia, added six new passenger destinations and three air cargo routes in 2023. The airport served around 13.1 million passengers in 2022 and will be able to serve up to 25 million passengers by 2026.

News source: Emirates News Agency