Globally-renowned aviation thought leaders and experts will discuss global airports outlook 2026, airport capacity, impact of Brexit, Trump and rising nationalism on aviation, and other highly relevant aviation industry issues at the fifth Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (Galf), to be held on May 16 and 17, at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Co-located with Airport Show 2017, Galf will be addressed by 36 eminent international aviation industry leaders and experts including Omar Bin Ghaleb, deputy director general, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority GCAA; Peter Harbison, executive chairman, Capa - Centre for Aviation; Akif Konar, executive vice-president commercial, Turkish Airlines; Sheikh Aimen Sultan Al-Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports Management Company; Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports; Christina Cassotis; CEO, Pittsburgh International Airport; PS Nair CEO, Corporate Airports Sector, GMR Group and Amit Riky, President and CEO, CCR USA.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the two-day forum will be hosted by Reed Exhibitions Middle East and organised by Capa- Centre for Aviation.

Galf comes at a highly relevant time as the aviation industry continues seeking effective ways to handle rapid growth in the number of air passengers, estimated to reach 7.2 billion by 2035, according to the latest statistics by International Air Transport Association (Iata).

Iata expects 7.2 billion passengers to travel in 2035, a near doubling of the 3.8 billion air travellers in 2016 and UAE will lead the Middle East growth in number of air travellers and witness over 6.3 per cent annual growth.

Harbison said: “Capa’s involvement in this top aviation industry forum in the region is part of an integrated global platform of airport strategy summits.”

Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director, Reed exhibitions Middle East, organisers for the Airport Show, Galf and WTCEME: “Galf has evolved as an annual industry think-tank that presents global best practices, new ideas and a highly-essential opportunity for the regional aviation industry to cooperate with experts, innovators and industry leaders from around the world. The fifth edition will witness discussions on highly relevant industry issues at a time when we are witnessing major shift in the passenger expectations and new challenges.”

Galf is supported by DCAA, DAEP, Dubai Airports and dnata, among others. Emirates is the official airline for the event. - TradeArabia News Service