After Dubai International Airport took the lead from its British counterpart London Heathrow in 2014 as the world's largest airport in international passenger numbers, current growth rates indicate that the UAE is moving towards a new race to compete at the top of the largest airports. The world in terms of the total number of passengers (domestic and international) together, and the proximity between the airports of the US Hartsfield Atlanta and Beijing, China, in terms of ranking first in terms of total traffic and not only international passengers, according to Dubai Airports.
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The aviation sector usually focuses mainly on international travelers when measuring the performance of air transport hubs, as they are the most influential in international trade and tourism, and the criterion of how an airport is connected to the outside world.
In 2015, the Dubai International Airport (DIA) offers three hubs in the list of the world's largest airports, in total passenger numbers, according to the World Airports Council, an increase of 10.7 per cent. According to the council's data from the world's three largest airport departments, Dubai International achieved average passenger growth of about 10% between 2011 and 2016, compared to 2.5% and 4% for Hartsfield and Beijing airports. , Apiece respectively.
Strong standing for competition
Officials and managers told Emirates Today that linking destinations efficiently gives Dubai International a strong place to compete as a global hub in the future, pointing to ongoing expansions to increase capacity at the airport, and work to employ the latest technology in the framework of reducing the time required to complete Travel procedures, as well as enhanced service levels.
Dubai International Airport received passenger number «billion» on December 20 last year, where it took 51 years, since its establishment on September 30, 1960 until December 31, 2011, to receive passenger number 500 million, but was able to receive the remaining 500 million passengers in Only seven years, between 2011 and 2018.
Process efficiency
Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, said: “Dubai International Airport is witnessing a number of expansions and is currently working on employing the latest technologies and the most efficient operations to reduce the time required to complete the check-in, which will enable passengers to enjoy a travel experience. "It is extremely smooth, easy and comfortable, which will further enhance the future of the airport."
“The high turnout is one of the main drivers that drive the airport to grow and implement long-term strategies and continue to develop in light of all challenges,” he said. .
He added: «With increasing rates of tourist turnout, and the emirate's transformation into a financial and business center, and increasing its role in hosting exhibitions and events, the airport will continue to compete in various levels»
Future growth
Al Suwaidi said that “the UAE is working on the future plans, which are keen on the growth of all sectors to implement the vision that drives us to always be in the first place in the world,” pointing out that «Emirates in turn, an integral part of the success story of Dubai Airport Limited but later becoming a leading carrier in the travel and tourism industry, it has a significant global influence today. ”
He pointed out that «the advanced infrastructure, and the airport's readiness to receive large numbers of passengers and air carriers, in addition to high safety standards and unique services, all factors will enhance the equation of future growth».
Intelligent technology
Mohamed Abdullah Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We continue to benefit from the latest smart technologies and optimize our investments, which will not only help us cope with the strong growth in passenger numbers, but also ensure that we deliver an unparalleled experience. For travelers, as well as rapid procedures and high levels of security ».
"To be able to manage this growth effectively, we need to continue to work towards excellence and look at the challenges associated with future growth as opportunities."
Continuous growth
Jamal Alhai, Vice President, Dubai Airports, said: “Dubai International Airport outperformed London's Heathrow Airport and was at the top of the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic, culminating in more than five decades of growth. The world's largest and largest airport, which received the number one billion passengers on December 20, 2018. ''
He added that «Dubai Airports has a new plan, called (DXB Plus), to increase the capacity of Dubai Airport until 2023», adding: «We work in this framework constantly to analyze and examine opportunities, which will enhance the status of the air transport sector In the emirate, providing the best experiences for travelers via Dubai International Airport ».
Balanced distribution
Bernard Dunn, president of Boeing in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: “The main factors that have contributed to making Dubai Airport a global aviation hub are access to many destinations from a single central point. Its dynamic hub provides balanced geographical distribution (many round-trip destinations), strategic location close to direct routes between destinations, and high cost efficiency for airlines. ”
“Dubai is doing well in terms of these measures, especially when considering the tremendous size and growth of incoming and outgoing flights between South Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe,” Dunn said. “Cities without effective air services live in isolation from the rest of the world. ».
World center
“Dubai's central location in the midst of three continents (Africa, Europe and Asia), the availability of air services to many destinations and the relative ease of doing business with the UAE have all contributed to the emirate's rise as a global business hub,” he said.
"In fact, this success would not have been possible had it not been for exceptional air services and a highly efficient airport to facilitate the movement of people and goods."
“Dubai International Airport's success has been based on being one of the most efficient hubs between Asia and Europe, and its role in helping airlines succeed through efficient operations and low costs. the growth".
Global standards
"The most important and important factors that support the growth and success of Dubai International Airport are clear plans with precise operational frameworks, as well as continued investment in infrastructure and technology," said Mikael Hawari, President of Airbus Europe in the Middle East and Africa. He pointed out that «the increased capacity of the airport, its readiness to receive large aircraft, and the success of many investments launched by the UAE government and major airlines operating in the airport, helped to improve its operations significantly».
“The Middle East is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, with airlines operating from Dubai International Airport adhering to a set of global standards to advance the future of the global commercial aviation sector, with operating fleets of the most advanced aircraft in the world,” he added. Dubai International Airport and Emirates Airline have continued to invest in innovation and new technologies, giving them an international reputation. ”
"The strategic geographical location of Dubai International Airport, which is a few hours away from Europe, Asia and Africa, strengthens its position on the global aviation map," he said, pointing out that "the continuous development efforts at Dubai International Airport will play a pivotal role in promoting its growth and success in the future." The use of state-of-the-art airport technology will help ensure that flights arrive and arrive on time and that travelers are happy and happy. ”
Better experiences
“The continued focus of Dubai International Airport on passengers is an indication of the approach the airport management is committed to delivering the best experiences to its customers, through customized services and new offerings,” Hawari said. Airlines continue to invest in modern, efficient aircraft to ensure high levels of passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
"The congestion of airspace is one of the biggest challenges facing the aviation sector in the region. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) stressed that this challenge is one of the most serious problems that threaten the growth of aviation in the region by 7% annually."
Factors of excellence
Ali Al Naqbi, Chairman of the Private Aviation Federation of the Middle East (MBIA), said: “Dubai International Airport, having managed to take the lead from its British counterpart (London Heathrow), is moving on its way to a new competition. It is at the top of the world's largest airports, in terms of the total number of passengers (both domestic and international), in front of and between the airports of Hartsfield Atlanta and Beijing.
He pointed out that «Dubai International» has recorded significant growth rates in recent years, while the current plans indicate the readiness of the airport to keep pace with future developments, and maintain and strengthen its competitive position, and after receiving passenger number (billion) at the end of last year, the airport began its new journey For the second billion ».
Al-Naqbi added that “future factors of excellence for international airports are facilitating travel procedures to enhance customer satisfaction, in addition to considering the requirements of airlines and providing services that reduce their operational costs.” Improving the efficiency of routes for incoming and outgoing flights, as well as launching projects that contribute to the integration of the smart travel system, through the launch of the project 'smart corridor', which enables passengers to cross from the passport area at Dubai International Airport, without the need to use travel documents.
Flexible policies
"Reducing the cost of air operations for airlines at Dubai Airport, which provides the latest technology to facilitate travel procedures, including pre-checking data and smart gates, will contribute to increasing its share in the global air transport market," Al Naqbi said. Flexible investment and effective linkages with various markets have a prominent role in the coming years, coupled with the geographical location of the airport, which puts flights from Dubai within eight hours of nearly two-thirds of the world's population. ”
He added that «according to the data of Dubai Airports, (Dubai International) was able to receive 500 million passengers in just seven years, between 2011 and 2018, recording significant growth rates compared to other international transport centers».
“The uniqueness of providing innovative services to customers through the airport, through cooperation with various strategic partners to facilitate the travel experience and easy air connectivity with markets, including emerging ones, will contribute to the gains in the coming years,” said Al Naqbi.
Capacity
John Grant, Senior Analyst at the International Airport and Airline Data Provider (OAG), said: “Continued expansions to increase capacity at Dubai International Airport, as well as the use of two successful local airlines: Emirates and flydubai. “Large orders for aircraft are important factors that will support current and future growth, as well as the geographical location of the airport for emerging markets in Asia and China.”
Passenger traffic flow
In an effort to improve the passenger experience at Dubai International Airport, Dubai Airports has launched a sophisticated system to monitor airport operations in real-time and capture passenger traffic flows to support smooth operations at the world's busiest airports. The system is a specially designed cloud platform that collects data from more than 50 operating systems, including Dubai airports and multiple service partners. This information is used to keep all relevant operational teams informed not only of current scenarios, but also of emerging situations in any Place from the airport, from the airport entrances area, to the airstrip, so they can predict challenges more accurately, enhance collaboration between service partners, and make decisions quickly.
According to Dubai Airports, the use of real-time information and sophisticated smart gates have already contributed to the customer experience at Dubai International Airport. In the first quarter of this year, the airport was able to reduce passenger waiting time by as much as 30% as a direct result of this. Intelligent systems.
Seat capacity for international flights
Dubai Airport continues to top the list of the largest airports in the world in terms of seat capacity on international flights departing, by a large margin of seven million seats annually, compared with its British counterpart «London Heathrow» Second.
According to the data sent to the Emirates Today, the total scheduled seat capacity at Dubai International Airport in 2019, from January 1 to the end of December, to 54 million 169 thousand and 79 seats on international flights departing only, starting from « Dubai International.
Airspace expansion
In line with its strategic plan, Dubai Airports is engaging national and regional civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers to ensure reduced air congestion, reduce air traffic congestion, unlock more potential for airspace, and work to implement and use the next generation of modern technologies. , Such as performance-based aeronautics and dynamic airspace management, to take advantage of modern fleet capabilities and increase airspace capacity.
The Dubai Air Navigation Services Corporation (Danz) has completed a project to restructure the airspace of the Emirate of Dubai, and contributed to raising the capacity of the city's airspace by 25% for Dubai Airport, in a series of projects to be prepared in the future, as part of strengthening the capacity of Dubai airports to cope with growth. Expected in the number of flights.
• 3 hubs offered by Dubai Airport at one time, in the list of the largest airports in the world, total number of passengers.
• 500 million passengers were able to receive Dubai airport in 7 years.
• 10% average growth in passenger numbers at Dubai International between 2011 and 2016.
• Linking destinations efficiently gives Dubai International a strong place to compete as a global hub in the future.
• Dubai International Airport received passenger number «billion» on December 20 last.