Airport Show-2013 opens Monday in Dubai amidst strong aviation industry resurgence

Abu Dhabi, May 5, 2013 (WAM) - The 13th edition of Airport Show gets underway in Dubai on Monday for a three-day run (6-8 May) with over 220 companies from over 35 countries showcasing a wide portfolio of trendy technologies and innovative solutions for the Middle East's forward-looking airports amidst strong signs of resurgence in global aviation industry and massive regional aviation infrastructure investments. Touted as the world's second biggest B2B event for the airport industry with strong reach to the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia markets, this year's show will be spread over 11,000 square metres. The event is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airlines and Group. Its organisers, Reed Exhibitions, expect that this year's show will be attended by over 6000 aviation professionals. There will be six country pavilions at the show. This year, over 60 high-ranking Hosted Buyers are coming from Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Tunisia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq and India. The event has also recorded a 65 per cent increase in visitor pre-registrations from last year. This year, the Airport Show will introduce two new features, the Airport Passenger Experience, an airport terminal-format zone offering a touch and feel of the airport of the future, and the Global Airport Leaders' Forum (GALF), an international conference aiming to create a platform where industry experts and thought-leaders can share knowledge and expertise to address issues of common interest. The Airport Show will also host an initiative that aims to encourage Emirati women to pursue highly-rewarding aviation careers. "Women in Aviation" is an inspiring photography exhibition that travels around the world, highlighting the role and contribution of women in the global aviation and aiming to inspire more women to overcome boundaries and set out to fulfil their goals. The Airport Show will feature, for the first time, the Global Airport Leaders' Forum (GALF) where globally-renowned aviation thought leaders and experts will be gathering in Dubai from May 7 to 8 to share their professional insights, practical experiences and future perspectives on airport operations, leadership challenges in the wake of multi-billion dollar expansions, optimum technology investment, management best practices, leadership development and cross-border partnerships and cooperation. The forum's first assembly will discuss issues that are vital for the global airport sector and especially the Middle East, where major development plans are under way. Middle East airlines are expected to record the highest growth in passenger traffic at 5.8 per cent per annum through to the year 2025 and airports are expected to handle 400 million passengers a year by 2020. At the same time, almost all the GCC airports are in a massive expansion mode to cope with the anticipated demand. A survey of aviation industry professionals, carried out by the Airport Show, has rated the Middle East as the world's region with the highest potential for airport investment and expansion in the next five years. An overwhelming 64.4 per cent of respondents voted online for the Middle East region, followed by the Asia Pacific with 16.7 per cent, Central Asia and Africa regions with 5.2 per cent each and Europe with 3.4 per cent. An investment of US$90 billion is projected to go into aviation industry in the Middle East by the year 2020. The Middle East region is project to handle 400 million air passengers by 2020, including 98 million by Dubai airport, now ranked the world's second busiest airport. The Middle East's three key airports - Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha - are all experiencing strong overall air traffic growth of around 10 per cent per annum, with very high levels of connecting traffic. Dubai International airport is the fastest growing airport in the world, as measured by annual seat capacity growth. The Middle Eastern hub has been increasing capacity by an average of 12 per cent per year since 2004. The IACO expects air traffic in the Middle East to grow by 5.2 per cent annually until 2030. The Middle East airlines are expected to experience the highest growth in passenger traffic at 5.8 per cent per annum through to the year 2025, compared to the world average of 4.6 per cent. The total aircraft movements to/from and within the Middle East region are estimated to increase to 2,346,000 in 2025 at an average annual growth rate of 7.6 per cent. The Middle East airlines are expected to add 12.8 percent in capacity in 2013. The Middle East-based airlines currently account for eight per cent of the global air transport industry. The Middle East is home to the youngest fleet in the world, with a total of more than 600 aircraft, and has the greatest number of aircraft on order anywhere in the world. Indeed, between now and 2020, the Middle East is forecast to lead world passenger traffic growth, with current travel demand up 18 percent. – Emirates News Agency, WAM