It included contactless, artificial intelligence, and e-bag cards

The airport exhibition offers technical solutions to overcome the "Covid-19" crisis

The exhibition was attended by the most prominent decision makers from the largest airports in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Photography: Ahmed Arditi

The 20th edition of the Airport Show concluded its business in Dubai with great success, amid a state of optimism for an imminent return to the recovery in travel demand, during the next few years, and an emphasis on the importance of smart travel as a future solution for more dynamic and smoother airports.

During the three-day exhibition, which lasted from 24 to 26 May, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center, the most prominent decision-makers from major airports in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia met with prominent exhibitors in the first international exhibition of this kind to be held since the outbreak of the pandemic. Covid-19 », as they bid farewell to the exhibition with a renewed sense of optimism and positivity in terms of the lost pace of growth and expansion.

Hybrid formula

Given that this distinguished session of the exhibition was organized in a hybrid format that combined personal attendance and remote communication, it also presented unique solutions that included the latest technologies that could help the aviation industry to overcome the "Covid-19" crisis.

The exhibition presented a set of solutions that were defined by a strong focus on contactless technologies, artificial intelligence, biometrics, e-bag cards, and off-site processing, and also prominently displayed new technologies and clean mobility solutions that ensure the hygiene and safety of travelers.

The airport exhibition reflected the resilience of the important players in the aviation sector in the Middle East, who also demonstrated their willingness to adapt to the changing pattern of travel, and to adopt new technologies to raise the expectations of travelers in the post-"Covid-19" world.

Great response

The great response to the exhibition also reflected, quite simply, the remark made by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports Corporation, Supreme President and CEO of Emirates Airlines and the Group, who said in press statements on the sidelines of the exhibition: “ The aviation industry has a long history of successfully recovering from crises, and the (Covid-19) pandemic does not deviate from the norm, as the setback is temporary and (the sector) will again be on the paths of transformation, and as was the case in the past, Dubai will continue in the future to lead the rise of this industry from Through cooperation and synergy ».

Various institutions

Daniel Qureshi, director of the exhibitions group at Reed Middle East Exhibitions, which organizes this trade fair, said, “The exhibitors held important meetings with representatives of various institutions from the UAE, other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as from the Middle East region. It is encouraging to see the people's enthusiasm to return to the normal situation as soon as possible, and to take advantage of the current period to prepare to meet the demand if the situation improves.

He added: “It was difficult to organize the exhibition at such a critical juncture that the aviation industry was just beginning to show signs of recovery, but many national and international companies as well as regional buyers showed confidence and presented in remarkable numbers, despite the restrictions imposed on travel around the world. the world".

The exhibition - which lasted for three days, was in halls (7) and (8) of the Dubai World Trade Center, which drew its support from the Dubai Corporation for Airports Engineering Projects, the Dubai National Air Travel Agency, the Dubai Air Navigation Services Corporation, and the Dubai Police, And the "Gall" Air Navigation Services Company, and its sponsorship from the "Emirates" company, the ground mission support company, "Indra", "Honeywell", "Hog Technologies", and "SAB" - has witnessed the participation of more than 95 exhibitors from 21 Countries, more than 100 buyers hosted from more than 20 countries, and 36 exhibitors within five international pavilions that included Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

And Qureshi continued: “All those who came to the show were very happy to meet each other again, and there were many important conversations during the face-to-face meetings, and the situation was very encouraging in terms of business, as the exhibitors got good business opportunities that may soon turn into Agreements ».

Smart technologies will shape the future of airports and enhance their security

The Executive Director of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency in Dubai, Khalifa Ibrahim Al-Slis, said that there would be no room for traditional airports to operate without advanced and smart future technologies, which confirms the imperative for future airports to enhance security and facilities through smart devices.

In his speech during the "Future Technologies Enhance Airport Security" session at the Global Airport Leaders Forum, which was held on the sidelines of the 2021 Airport Expo in Dubai, he added that Dubai Airport ranked first in the world for international travelers with 89.1 million passengers in 2019.

Al-Slis added: “We all know that passport security and health checks, which stand behind long hours of delay, are necessary and unavoidable measures. Therefore, smart airports represent the future of air travel because of the smart devices provided, to reduce waiting time in passport control and security inspection queues. And at ports exempt from customs duties and others ».

He added, "Smart counters have reduced waiting times in passport control and security inspection queues, and in duty-free ports, among others."

The figures recorded in 2018 and 2019 show that 78% of the users of these services were economy class passengers, which helped to avoid congestion and reduce the waiting time in the passenger terminal.

"The use of smart phone applications in travel procedures, such as printing boarding passes and booking tickets in advance, has reduced the waiting times at airports, which in turn has led to social distancing."

Al Balushi: We have reached a pre-pandemic level

The Assistant Director-General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the General Civil Aviation Authority, Ismail Al Balushi, confirmed that “the Emirati society has returned to its normal state thanks to an effective vaccination strategy,” and said at the end of a session titled “Air Traffic Management in the Post-Covid Period” during the Leaders Forum International airports: "We are ready to receive good news, and we have reached the pre-pandemic level, and the society is open, but without complacency."

He added that “retail and entertainment trade is an indication of the return of society to its normal state, and our recovery will increase when other countries reopen with the UAE, and we all look forward to a return to normal in 2021, some countries have opened their borders, but with more conditions for entry, and this is a situation. Sends hope in terms of recovery ».

He continued, "The civil aviation sector has been deeply affected, and we do not, in any case, have any control over public health measures and border controls. We need to cooperate and exchange more efforts with countries and non-governmental organizations, at the national, regional and international levels."

Participating companies

The management advisor to Airtech Italia, the leading trade association representing Italian companies specialized in supplying products, technologies and services to airports and air traffic control service providers, Rocco Marcuccio, said, “The participating companies were surprised by the response they received from regional aviation actors during the exhibition, which reflects the region’s yearning. The situation improved ».

“It is a very exciting time for the aviation sector, as the global situation is gradually improving, but the countries of the Middle East are showing yearning to prepare for the future,” he added.

The exhibition was successful because it brought to Dubai international players who wanted to establish cooperation with local and regional players.

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