Dubai International has won top awards for best airport in the recently announced Selling Long Haul Awards and Business Traveller Awards (Germany).

Dubai International was voted by travel agents as the Best Long Haul Airport for 2008 through the Selling Long Haul magazine, while readers of the Business Traveller Germany chose Dubai International as the Best Airport in the Middle East (2008).

“International honours from industry publication as prestigious as Selling Long Haul and Business Traveller are recognitions of our ongoing efforts to provide the highest standard of service, and the best of facilities to the millions of passengers who travel through Dubai International each year,” said Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and chairman of Dubai Airports.

Passenger traffic at Dubai International reached 37.4 million in 2008 – up 9 per cent over 2007, probably the highest growth rate registered last year by any of the top ten busiest airports in the world. 

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said one of the awards represents appreciation from the travel trade industry while the other signifies recognition from the individual traveller.

“It shows we are heading in the right direction in terms of customer service and we are extremely delighted,” he said. “We've had the busiest summer in the history of Dubai International in 2008 just before Terminal 3 opened on October 14, but our customer-oriented approach led to the implementation of practical solutions we were able not only to maintain but further enhance the overall customer experience at the airport.

“The flawless opening of Terminal 3, which has been hailed the world over by the aviation industry, the media and most importantly our customers, as the most successful launch of a terminal in history, is an indicator of our capabilities and our intentions. I am confident we will be able to make groundbreaking enhancements in the quality of our customer service in the time to come.” – TradeArabia News Service