Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Mid-East Aviation Summit - Responding to Growth

Talkfest begins today:
Abu Dhabi will play host to the first Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit, to be held in the region when it starts on Wednesday 27 February.

Arabian Business Press Release: Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_pressreleases&view=detail&pr_id=13092&Itemid=77&ln=en)
'...aviation experts from throughout the Middle East and Asia ...discuss the huge growth the aviation sector is experiencing in this part of the world'.

'Throughout the Middle East airport infrastructure projects add up to more than $50bn dollars whilst carriers such as Etihad, Qatar and Emirates are leading the world in orders for new aircraft with orders for around 1000 new aircraft emanating from the region worth more than $200bn dollars.

' ADAC we are in the process of re-developing the airport at Abu Dhabi and we will soon boost capacity by a further five million with the opening of the new terminal three facility. The second runway is nearly complete and work has already begun on the new air traffic control tower.'

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There might be some news or detail on the airport upgrade schedules (DXB, DOH, AUH, maybe BAH?), aircraft delivery and traffic on new and recent routes?


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Hopefully some news on real operational improvements to existing terminals.
Any idea if DXB, DOH, AUH terminals will see improvements to passengers this year?


General stats on the growth of aviation in the region:

A few keynote quotes (http://www.ameinfo.com/148103.html) [AME Info]:

'Middle East and North Africa was the fastest growing region for air passenger and cargo traffic in 2006 and this growth is set to continue at seven per cent each year between now and 2011.

This is the highest of any region in the world and compares to a global average of just over five per cent. '

'...ten airports across the Middle East are also investing $37bn in new airport capacity which will provide for an additional 318 million passengers per year by 2012.'

'the Middle East is now competing on a global stage. The region still needs to ensure that it manages capacity against growth, but the signs are that real and lasting change is sustainable.'

'Etihad's expansion plans at its Abu Dhabi home base ...a second runway and two new terminals, one exclusively dedicated to Etihad Airways due to open later this year. This is part of a $6.8bn investment to boost capacity three fold from current levels to 20 million passengers a year by 2011'

- James Hogan will present the keynote today. From Abu Dhabi, of course.

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This could be mostly politics, to keep the UAE happy that so much money is going into Etihad. ;)
Etihad Airways is playing a crucial role in driving economic growth in the UAE, with the airline's expansion set to support the creation of more than 100,000 jobs in the next 10 years, according to a study Oxford Economics, a leading UK think-tank. The airline contributed Dhs10.824bn (6.6%) of Abu Dhabi's non-oil GDP (2.7% of total GDP) in 2007, and helped generate or support a total of 48,813 (or 5%) of non-oil jobs throughout the emirate [AMEinfo - Link (http://www.ameinfo.com/148055.html)]

This isn't terribly useful to us but hopefully we get more detail on the timing and facilities of the respective hubs in AUH, DXB and DOH soon.

AUH airport authority Chairman K M Mazrouie:
Don't miss out on ME aviation boom (http://www.tradearabia.com/news/TTN_139389.html) [TradeArabia]
...the Middle East was the world’s fastest growing region in terms of passenger traffic, which increased by 18.6 per cent when compared to last year.

“...that provides the answer to those who ask why the Middle East carriers and those from India and China are investing so heavily and why those in the US and Europe are not,” he said.

...Dubai building capacity ahead of demand with a 120 million passenger global hub
...Qatar’s new airport will open in 2009 to cater for the rapid growth of Qatar Airways.
In Saudi Arabia plans have been unveiled to make King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah second only to Dubai in size with a three phase programme culminating in an 80 million capacity in 2035.

...Abu Dhabi was a particularly strong performer in the region, with passenger traffic having grown by 31 per cent in 2007.


(Gulf Air must be hurt by that growth, unless it's from new(ish) routes like DUB and BNE)

Not sure if this thing is just a EY-fest or if there will be substantive info on Emirates / DXB growth, QR / DOH growth et al.

Keep an eye out for any 'good deal' fares - I missed the GF one from DUB last year. :rolleyes: