UAE airports are projected to have 1.62 million aircraft movements by 2030, while the overall Middle East region will witness 2.3 million aircraft movements in 2025, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

ICAO predicts a 5.2 per cent annual growth in regional air traffic until 2030.

Middle East carriers are set to spend a whopping $450 billion on 2,520 aircraft by 2030, taking the number of passenger aircraft from 1,060 to 2,710, an incredible increase of 160 per cent. Emirates Airlines alone is aiming at 70 million passengers in 2020, the report added.

Commenting on the report, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said: “Airspace is part of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system; we cannot take it in isolation from the rest of the system components.

“To improve the system many other areas have to be collaboratively improved such as the airport design and operations. We are working to improve ATM efficiency in the region through an airspace enhancement and restructuring programme.”

Ibrahim Ahli, director of Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), said: “The importance of managing the UAE airspace efficiently is obvious, but the importance of harmonization with adjacent (and beyond) states is imperative. Without cooperation from these states, our growth will be hampered, and severe departures- as well as arrivals delays are inevitable.”

The UAE airspace system currently handles approximately 600,000 movements a year. By 2025 it needs to accommodate the range of 1.2 million movements. This target is broadly equivalent to the current volume of traffic handled in the New York or London areas, he added.

He was speaking ahead of the upcoming 2014 edition of Airport Show at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The 14th edition of the show will be held May 11 to 13 with the support of DCAA, Dubai Airports and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP).

A wide portfolio of the latest and most innovative Air Traffic Control (ATC) technology and solutions designed to make skies safer for air travel will be showcased to regional airport stakeholders.

Daniyal Qureshi, director, Airport Show, said: “There is no doubt that the biggest challenge affecting the aviation industry in the Middle East is congestion. Airspace is an asset and just like any other asset, it can be managed and maximised. This is where technology is coming into the big picture. At the Airport Show-2014, we will have a significant presence of companies that specialize in Air Traffic Control (ATC) technology and solutions.”

Amongst the global ATC players at the event this year, are ADB Airfield Solutions (Belgium), Cooper Crouse Hinds (US), Erni AGL and Europoles Suisse (both from Switzerland), Jotron AS (Norway) along with Bayanat Airport Engineering & Supplies , Ales FZCO, ARINC and Honeywell from the UAE.

The Airport Show is co-located with the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF), an industry meeting to generate solutions for airport leaders from around the world to overcome their common challenges and Travel Catering Expo, a dedicated platform for the region to discuss opportunities in the airport catering business.

Airport Show is the largest gathering of airport decision makers, experts and suppliers in the region. The event also features specialised seminars and a pre-scheduled meetings programme. – TradeArabia News Service