Airspace constraints threaten growth: Dubai Airports

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths identified (13-Jun-2011) capacity constraints in the Middle East's airspace as the single largest threat to growth in the region's aviation industry. Speaking at the CANSO AGM in Bangkok, Mr Griffiths also listed a lack of strategic planning among air navigation service providers and the general absence of long term commitment and investment, as being "equally disconcerting". To avoid constraining the industry's growth, Dubai Airports is finalising a detailed strategy to expand airspace capacity over the next decade. The plan includes adjusting the sequencing of arrivals and departures, redesigning route structures and making better use of technologies such as performance-based navigation and communication navigation and surveillance systems that help aircraft fly more efficiently.

Dubai Airports: "Previously most of aviation's congestion problems have existed on the ground, now the biggest strategic threat to the growth of aviation is in the air. There are several root causes for this malaise. The external factors start with nationalism and politics getting in the way of logic. There is needless concern over sovereignty issues which have long been overcome elsewhere. Another is an outdated regulatory environment which is not supporting the new order of aviation where airspace is viewed as a global commodity, not a local product. Finally, airspace management is being seen by other parts of the industry as a black art, not a vital part of the supply chain and is therefore not properly integrated." Paul Griffiths, CEO. Source: 13-Jun-2011.

Dubai Airports: "There is a critical gap between politics and operations at both government and operating levels in presenting the compelling economic case for an efficient airspace environment. We simply cannot wait for the political wheels to grind so slowly. We have to recognise that working together is the only way forward." Paul Griffiths, CEO. Source: 13-Jun-2011.