Airport Show prepares for record event on the back of huge regional growth

The show features more than 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 His Highness 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 fulfill their goals.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed said: “The aviation sector represents one of the region’s main economic pillars and billion-dollar investments aimed at developing the airports and air carriers will strengthen the region’s presence on the international air transport map. The Airport Show will enable decision makers to convene in one venue to share airport industry updates, as well as identify future challenges.”

He added: “The Forum will bring together under one roof the global aviation regulators and civil aviation authorities to explore best practices and collaborate on the establishment of clear legislative frameworks, policy priorities, transparent governance systems, and effective funding strategies to accommodate the growth in the region - 400 million passengers by 2020. The combined efforts will help further promote the success of a thriving aviation industry in the region.”

Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: “All companies that participate in the show have an opportunity to work with us. Moreover, we also help open the door for them to expand their presence across the region, not just in the UAE. The industry can take advantage of the show’s depth in terms of participation from leading aviation suppliers and manufacturers worldwide to identify and adopt the best of what the industry has to offer to support the aviation development programmes.”

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), said: “The continual growth of Dubai International Airport has been fundamental to both the success of the city’s tourism industry and the story of the Emirate itself. Therefore, Dubai is a natural location for the hosting of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia’s (MENASA) premier airport show. Industry leading events such as this are vital components of DWTC’s annual calendar and demonstrate the city’s position as the premier trade and tourism hub of the region. We look forward to hosting the show and to taking a glimpse into the future of the aviation industry.”

Daniyal Qureshi, Event Director, The Airport Show, said: “We feel there is a positive sentiment across the aviation industry since several airport developments have been announced in the region in the past 18 months. Mega-projects that had slowed down are picking up pace again. International suppliers are looking to the region, so massive airport upgrades are necessary to meet the fleet and aircraft upgrades.”

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.

Among the galaxy of speakers are Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Benito De Leon, Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Hussein Dabbas, Regional Vice President MENA, IATA, Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, Francesco Violante, CEO, SITA, Alan Lamond, Vice Chairman, British Aviation Group (BAG), Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free, Adel Ali, CEO, Air Arabia, and Thani Al Zaffin, Director General, Emaratech.

The other discussion leaders include Martin Craigs, CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Dieter A. Heinz, President, German Airport Technologies & Equipment (GATE), Dr. Waleed Youssef, CSO, TAV Airports Turkey, Mohamed Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport, Sean Carney, Chief Design Officer, Royal Philips Electronics, Prof. Tod Laursen, President and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research (KUSTAR), Winston Thomas, CEO, Pembrey Airport, UK, Eugene Barry, Senior VP Commercial, Dubai Airports, and Ali Al Naqbi, Founding Chairman, Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA).

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.