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will have to come up with other solutions to satisfy Dubai’s continued thirst for growth. In Dubai, we are building, not talking about building. An unwavering vision to build not just an airport but an engine of economic growth and vital to the growth of the city.” Dubai International is currently the world’s number one airport for international passengers and the sixth busiest. Al Maktoum International Airport in DWC, which presently has five to seven million passengers capacity, saw 845,046 passengers passing through its gates in its first full year of operations in 2014. DWC will have a passenger capacity of 220 million on completion of its second phase. The first phase of US$32 billion dollar expansion of DWC, approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai late last year, will enable the facility to accom-
GMR owns 54 per cent stake in the Delhi International Airport and 63 per cent of the Hyderabad Airport
modate 120 million passengers on completion over the next six to eight years. Al Maktoum International will be 10 times larger than the site of Dubai International, making it the world’s largest airport and the world’s largest intercontinental hub.
In 2013, aviation contributed US$26.7 billion to the economy of Dubai or 27 per cent of the emirate’s GDP. About 416500 people rely on aviation activities for the livelihood which works out to 27 per cent of the total workforce in Dubai.
The US$7.8 billion investment will to lead to ultimate capacity of 100 million passengers at the Dubai International. Last year, it recorded 70.4 million passengers, an increase of 6.1 per cent and this year expected to handle 79 million passengers.
“The vision for aviation remains single minded and utterly focused on building that contribution at a faster rate than any other activity in Dubai,” he said. Pradeep Panicker, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure, told the Future of Borders conference that the aviation industry in India was undergoing major infrastructure transformation with airports modernization and expansion under focus.
He said the design challenges are focused on four key areas Passenger Experience, Airline Product, Airport Processes and Facilities.
DIAL is a joint venture company among GMR Group, Airports Authority of India, Fraport and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. |Manafez Dubai |April 2015 | 25