“Dubai World Central” represents a qualitative leap in the field of air transport and the airport industry

Experts in the aviation sector said that “Dubai World Central” is the main project and is almost the only one other than that it is the first in the Middle East that carries the concept of “Airport City”, as Dubai has taken advanced steps in the construction of this project, which represents a qualitative leap in the field of air transport and the airport industry. .

The experts agreed that the concept of city airports is not dead, and represents the future of airports in the 21st century, stressing that the growth in tourism, trade and new connectivity tools requires the presence of such airports around the world, where there are about 83 airports that carry this new concept.

Speakers at a session on “Airport Cities” during the Global Airport Leaders Forum within the 2014 Airport Show in Dubai stated that the “Dubai World Central” and Muscat International Airport projects are models in the region according to this concept, especially “Dubai World Central”, which includes five areas that vary between aviation and services. Logistics, commercial and residential centers.

John Cressada, director of the Center for Aviation Economics at the Falger School of Management at the University of North Carolina, said that the concept of city airports appeared 13 years ago to represent the fifth wave of the airport industry in the world, and it will remain the solution for logistics services and keeping pace with the growth of travel and the economy, noting that the “Airport City” It comes in line with IATA’s expectations for the growth of passengers by 4 to 5 billion passengers within 20 years, bringing the number of air passengers to 14 billion.

Krasada indicated that the world is witnessing important developments in the field of air transport and airport services, pointing out that there are 83 airports around the world that are considered city airports, and China alone is working to build 51 airports according to the concept of “air cities,” unlike many projects around the world.

The session was moderated by Hamdi Othman, Chairman of Soltier Aviation Consulting Company, and attended by Dr. Jenny Io, Chief Financial Officer at Taiwan International Airport, and Eng. Khalfan Al Suhaili, General Manager of the Business Sector at Oman Airports Management Company.

Kressada pointed out that among the airports of cities in the world is Taipei Airport in Taiwan at a cost of 16.4 billion dollars, unlike many airports around the world, expecting these airports to grow into sustainable cities, and new airports will appear in the coming years, especially in the Middle East, given that it is the most region in the world. growth in air traffic.

And he indicated that the American city of Memphis witnessed the first city airport in the world, followed by successive waves around the world, where China and the United States of America represented the main wave, while it entered the Middle East through Dubai through the Al Maktoum Airport project within “Dubai World Central” at a cost of more than 33 billion dollars, in particular. Initial.

He pointed out that the importance of city airports is not limited to the transportation of passengers only, but its main importance in the commercial sector, and the movement of goods and commodities, especially with regard to the movement of fresh goods and flowers, pointing to the possibility of exporting 70 to 80 percent of fresh goods through airports.

For his part, Dr. Jenny Ao said: “Taiwan’s experience in the construction of an air city is one of the experiences supported by the state, and more than 16 billion dollars have been allocated for it, and it will be linked to a network of roads and services to the center of the capital, where 6 billion has been spent on the project so far.”

In addition, Engineer Khalfan Al-Suhaili spoke about the experience of the Sultanate of Oman in the aviation industry, pointing out that the idea of ​​the air city concept is one of the most important projects that Oman aims to build on the new Muscat airport. He added that the construction of the second “northern” runway at the airport will be completed at the end of this year. .

He stated that Muscat Airport is among five new airports implemented by Oman Airports Company, explaining that the project will be completed in 2016 with a capacity of 36 million passengers, and it will be linked to a network of roads and railways with a group of residential and commercial projects surrounding it to become an “Airport City” that enhances plans The Sultanate aims to increase reliance on non-oil resources in the national economy by 81% in 2020.