São Paulo – There are over USD 100 billion worth of planned and ongoing airport projects in the Middle East, according to a survey conducted by Dubai’s market research company MEED. Passenger traffic in the region exceeds capacity by 11%, but new projects in the next 10 to 20 years could increase capacity to 400 million passengers a year, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported this Wednesday (29).
Middle East passenger traffic was up 9.8% last year from 2015, according to the Airports Council International (ACI). It was the second highest growth in the world, region-wise, trailing only Asia-Pacific.
From May 15 to 17, Dubai will host Airport Show 2017, featuring airport operators and industry suppliers. WAM said over 200 delegates from 60 operators will sit down for matchmaking sessions.
“Airport expansion in the Middle East has been driving global aviation growth with the numerous business opportunities, it is creating for international manufacturers and suppliers,” WAM quoted the director of the show’s organizing company, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, Daniyal Qureshi, as saying. “As the number of passengers is projected to continue rising, aviation industry expects further investments,” he said.
Buyers are expected to attend from countries including Algeria, Armenia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Tanzania, Kuwait, Seychelles and the UAE.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
