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286 reports
Two new distinguished speakers have joined the expert speaker faculty at the Airport Security Summit Middle East 2010. The summit will take place at the Grand Millennium Hotel from February 7th until February 10th. Stephen S. Oswald is vice-president and general manager of Intelligence and Security Systems for Boeing Network and Space Systems. Robert P. H. Axworthy Msyl is Regional Aviation Security Liason…
The US Transport Security Administration (TSA) announced that air travelers from Saudi Arabia and 14 other countries will be subject to extra security checks and advanced baggage screening, before they board airliners headed for the US. The new security measures come into effect on the Monday following the attempted bombing on Christmas day of an aircraft bound for the United States. An embassy spokesman in…
Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Duty Free announced that their revenues increased 12.7 percent in 2009 to more than AED500 million. This is the first time Duty Free revenues have exceeded AED500 million. Passenger growth in the UAE has increased 7.5 percent and average passenger spending is up 5.5 percent. Chief Commercial Officer for Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), Huraiz Almur Bin Huraiz said “We are…
A branch of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is now open 24 hours a day seven days a week at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The bank will provide foreign exchange and other banking services 24/7, mainly for international travelers. Head of Branches at ADIB said “This 24/7 banking initiative is an innovation worthy of being listed in the milestones of banking in the UAE.” Sameh Al-Awadallah said the Abu Dhabi…
Passenger growth at Dubai International Airport increased 6.7 percent to reach 26,878,331 during the first eight months of 2009, up from 25,182,526 for the same period in 2008. The consistent passenger growth at DIA stands in sharp contrast to a 7 percent contraction in year-to-date international passenger growth, as reported by Airports Council International (ACI). Dubai International also continues to…
Flights to Dubai have generally not been disrupted by bad weather in the United States and Europe. Dubai is connected to over 210 cities around the world. An Emirates spokesman said “Our flights remained unaffected. Flights to most European cities operated as per schedule. Some flights have experienced slight delay due to congestions at the airport, but not due to weather.” Dubai Airports, which runs Dubai…
The expansion plan for King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh was approved by the board of directors of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) at a meeting on Monday. The first phase of the expansion project will boost the airports annual capacity to 25 million passengers. Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier, and minister of defense and aviation presided over the meeting. Prince Sultan said…
The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix event on Yas Island last month contributed to Abu Dhabi International Airport’s impressive passenger and cargo growth rates during October. The Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC) released figures on Saturday showing the airport again bucked global recessionary trends recording a seven percent increase in passenger traffic in the first ten months of this year…
The UAE government signed a non-binding agreement with six other states and the European Commission outlining principles to liberalize the global airline industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the agreement is aimed at boosting the airline industry which has lost US$53 billion (Dh194.66bn) over the past eight years. It would change a 65 year old bilateral system that restricts the way…
Dubai is reviewing a plan to centralize air traffic control in the Gulf region in order to reduce congestion. Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, HE Mohammed Abdullah Ahli, said a committee has been established to look into ongoing problems in the aerospace sector. Under consideration is a plan to create a centralized air traffic control agency like the one in Europe. He said “We have a…
Abu Dhabi International Airport announced that passenger traffic increased 7.5 percent during the first three quarters of this year compared to the same period last year. Passenger numbers also increased 6.4 percent in the third quarter of this year, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company reported a 6.8 percent passenger increase in September. Acting Chief Executive of ADAC, John Stent said “Abu Dhabi International…
Sharjah Airport reported about 4.24 million passengers passed through the Sharjah International Airport in the first three quarters of this year, eight percent more than the same period last year. A statement said the number of flights increased to a record 45,022, up from 44,086 in 2008. Dr. Ganem Al Hajri, Director General of Sharjah Airport Authority, said it is heartening to see that the continued growth…
Chairman of Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority said the country is on track to open its new $14bn international airport. Qatar is the world’s biggest gas exports and is looking for ways to stimulate employment and diversify government revenues. Adul Aziz Al Noami said “The new $14bn airport will be over 22km and open in 2011.” Qatar is competing with Dubai and Abu Dhabi to become a transit hub for the Gulf, and…
Director General of Business Development and Properties at Domestic Airports, Ala Samman, said the first phase of the huge expansion project at Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah will be finished in 2014. Samman said that after reviewing best offers, the contract for implementing the project will be awarded to the winning company in October 2010. After the project is finished, the…
‘Airport City’ projects were launched in major airports in the Kingdom by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) which is increasingly moving towards private sector partnerships. GACA President Abdullah Rehaimi spoke about the projects at the Kingdom Aviation Financiers Symposium organized by GACA at the Jeddah Hilton on Monday. The symposium was organized in conjunction with Boeing. Rehaimi said…
Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport increased 19.5 per cent in September compared to the same period last year. This is the highest monthly growth rate since October 2007, when passenger traffic increased 25.9 per cent, and the fourth consecutive month of double digit passenger growth. Dubai International handled 3,190,408 passengers in September 2009, bringing the year to date passenger…
Head of Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADEC), Khalifa Al Mazroui said at press conference that a center for business and logistics will be established at the Al Ain Airport. The aim will be to make it a regional center for cargo and budget airlines.
General Authority of Civil Aviation said Tuesday that Crown Prince Sultan signed an SR498 million agreement to modernize the firefighting equipment at the Kingdom’s 278 airports. Prince Sultan is deputy prime minister of defense and aviation. He said “It’s an important step toward achieving the objectives of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.” He said the upgrade will help improve the efficiency and…
