More than 300 exhibitors from over 90 countries will showcase their innovative and game-changing products at the 18th edition of the Airport Show in Dubai, UAE from May 7 to 9, 2018.

“The Middle East aviation industry is witnessing an exciting time with the region recording the second highest passenger traffic growth rate and continuing with its multi-billion-dollar airport expansion and modernisation programs,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group and patron of Airport Show.

“Whether it is the latest scanning technologies, passenger experiences or robot baggage handlers the region’s airports are investing in the latest of technology and concepts and stay ahead of competition. This exciting time in the industry will be reflected at the Airport Show 2018.”

The 18th edition of Airport Show will feature two new co-located events, Air Traffic Control (ATC) Forum and Airport Security Middle East, in addition to CAPA-Centre of Aviation Global Airport Leaders Forum (GALF) and Women in Aviation.

The new ATC Forum will offer the air traffic management professionals a dedicated exhibition and conference, aimed at senior level decision-makers from ANSPs, CAAs, airports, airlines and the military.

Airport Security Middle East features a dedicated conference and exhibition hosting top officials from regional airport security departments and facilitating over 1,000 pre-scheduled meetings for airport security exhibitors.

The show is supported by International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), Dubai Airports, dnata, Contractors Association and Shipping and Cargo Logistics Group (SCLG).

The iconic B2B show will occupy an exhibition space of 10,860 sq m at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), with larger participation expected by country pavilions from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Switzerland, the US and China.

With an expected growth of over 10 per cent, Reed Exhibitions, the organisers are confident about the show being a complete sell-out once again.

Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said: “The Middle East region has been recording a phenomenal growth in terms of passengers as well in infrastructural investments. This has generated a tremendous interest from global aviation players and Airport Show provides an ideal platform bringing companies, organisations and decision-makers from all over the world on this platform to explore the latest technology as well as information.”

Global interest in the Middle East aviation has remained strong given the excellent growth record. According to International Air Transport Association (Iata) global passenger traffic results for 2016Middle East carriers had the strongest regional annual traffic growth for the fifth year in a row at 11.8 per cent compared with the global average of 6.3 per cent.

In Dubai, the planned $32 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International will help accommodate that rapid growth with an ultimate capacity to handle up to 240 million passengers upon completion.

According to a new CAPA research, $255 billion is being invested in new (greenfield) airport projects around the world. Together with the investment at existing airports in projects such as new runways and terminal buildings, runway and terminal extensions and miscellaneous ones ($845 billion), which means that $1.1 trillion in airport infrastructure projects are planned or under way within a timescale that continues for four decades into the future. – TradeArabia News Service