Doha, Qatar: Hamad International Airport (DOH) continues to elevate its travel experience with the introduction of dedicated screening lanes for families with younger children transferring through the airport.
The dedicated family lanes will reduce wait times at security checkpoints and provide staff assistance to help families with their personal belongings, minimizing stress and wait times. Following a successful testing phase in the transfer screening area, it will be expanded to other security checkpoints, ensuring families enjoy a smooth journey throughout the airport.
To further enhance this experience and ensure it is tailored to meet travelers’ needs, Hamad International Airport says it will gather feedback and suggestions for improvement from passengers utilizing these dedicated lanes.
Hamad International Airport says it is continuing to set new standards in modern air travel, prioritizing passenger experience and safety at every step. Over the years, Hamad International Airport has significantly reduced passenger wait times at security checkpoints to industry-leading levels, ensuring well over 95% of passengers wait for less than five minutes to go through the security process, whilst at the same time enhancing the airport’s security levels.
Passengers transferring through the airport can conveniently keep their electronic devices and liquid containers in their hand luggage at checkpoints, streamlining the security process, and resulting in overwhelmingly positive customer feedback, with a 97.2% passenger satisfaction rate.
Renowned for its family-friendly amenities, Hamad International Airport offers a range of facilities tailored to accommodate travelers with children. From baby changing rooms to family toilets designed to accommodate children, the airport prioritizes convenience, privacy and comfort for families. Young travelers can enjoy play areas, while those seeking relaxation can retreat to one of the 17 quiet rooms featuring comfortable recliner seats and subdued lighting.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: In a landmark achievement for air travel technology, Zayed International Airport has successfully processed over one million passengers through Abu Dhabi’s new terminal since its inauguration on 15 November 2023, marking a significant milestone in harnessing the power of cutting-edge biometric technology.
Building on a long-term commitment to advancing airport capabilities, IDEMIA has been at the forefront of innovation in the UAE since 2011. The deployment of a comprehensive border management solution at Abu Dhabi Airport, featuring the world’s first multi-biometric entry/exit system, has significantly bolstered border security while simultaneously enhancing the passenger experience and throughput.
The success of this groundbreaking project has led to its extension to the country’s four other international airports.
The Single Token Journey (STJ) solution, a highlight of this collaboration, employs advanced facial recognition technology to streamline the passenger experience. By assigning a unique digital identifier to every traveler, the STJ solution eliminates the need for multiple documents, enabling passengers to move from curb to gate, including the border clearance step, in a record time of just 12 minutes.
Elena Sorlini, MD and CEO, Zayed International Airport, commented: “The initial rollout of cutting-edge biometrics at Zayed International Airport underscores our dedication to enhancing airport experiences through innovation and technology, ensuring efficiency, convenience, and superior service. Once fully implemented, Abu Dhabi will pioneer as the world’s first airport with biometrics integrated at every stage, ensuring travelers enjoy a seamless, safe, and secure journey.”
Osama Al Makhamreh, Vice President, Sales – Middle East & Africa, IDEMIA Public Security, noted Zayed International Airport’s achievement has set a new global standard for passenger facilitation.
“The processing of over one million passengers since November is a significant achievement for us, and it underscores the scalability, security, and efficiency of the STJ solution. Together, we are setting a new global standard for passenger facilitation,” he said.
The initiative aligns with Zayed International Airport’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies that streamline the travel process, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading hub for technological advancement and superior passenger facilitation.
Munich, Germany: Munich Airport and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) are embarking on an intensive cooperation in the field of aviation training. Hag Jae Lee, CEO of IIAC, and Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Munich Airport’s “Airport Academy”.
This partnership will focus on joint initiatives to develop and implement innovative training programs that address the changing needs and requirements of the aviation industry.
Regular meetings between the two academies are intended to encourage continuous communication and the exchange of modern training methods. The agreement also allows for the exchange of training courses and instructors to provide a varied and comprehensive learning experience.
DUBAI, UAE: Dubai International (DXB) ended 2023 with record achievements and extraordinary growth, welcoming 87 million guests in annual traffic, surpassing not only the forecast of its operator, Dubai Airports, but also its pre-pandemic history.
With 7.8 million guests, December 2023 was the busiest month in the fourth quarter during which the airport welcomed a total of 22.4 million guests, a year-on-year growth of 13.8% compared to Q4 of last year. Q3 remained the quarter with highest traffic since 2019 with 23 million guests while August, with 7.9 million guests, was the month with the highest traffic.
DXB is currently connected to 262 destinations across 104 countries through 102 international carriers. Initial forecasts indicate that in 2024, DXB is anticipated to receive 88.8 million guests, putting the hub within striking distance of its previous all-time high record of 89.1 million guests set in 2018.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, said, “DXB’s spectacular performance in 2023 is a resounding testament to the visionary leadership and determination of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve growth and excellence across sectors, surmounting all challenges along the way.
“This exceptional performance underscores Dubai’s emergence as the world’s most popular tourism destination and its pivotal role in global commerce and trade, facilitated by the unmatched connectivity, aviation capacity and logistics infrastructure that has been built steadily over the years under His Highness’s leadership … the city continues to grow rapidly as a global aviation hub and the world’s preferred gateway for international travellers.”
Sheikh Hamdan noted that Dubai Airports, led by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, has introduced strategic initiatives and made vital investments in infrastructure, technology, and customer service to place Dubai at the forefront of global aviation growth.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, noted, “I am incredibly proud of everyone at Dubai International, for their dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence, which has propelled us to break many of our own records. 2023 was an exceptional year and is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation, efficiency and delivering exemplary guest experience.”
“Looking ahead, we’re renewing our commitment to collectively enhance the airport experience for all our guests by launching a significant project to expand and refurbish facilities at DXB, to fortify our infrastructure for future growth. DXB remains firmly positioned as a global leader, setting the gold standard for exceptional guest experiences and international aviation excellence.”
Operational excellence and guest experience
DXB processed an impressive total of 77.5 million bags in 2023, making it the highest volume of bags managed during a calendar year at the airport. Despite 24.6% year-on-year increase in baggage volume, DXB maintained its unmatched success rate of 99.8%, with only 2.4 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.
More than 95% of guests experienced less than seven minutes of waiting time at departure passport control while the average waiting time at security check on departures was less than four minutes for 97.5% of guests.
In ACI World’s globally recognised Airport Service Quality (ASQ) programme, DXB scored 4.5, the highest result achieved by the airport to date, reflecting the hub’s commitment to continuously enhance guest satisfaction, business performance and airport service quality.
Top country destinations
India claimed the top spot among destination countries with traffic totalling 11.9 million guests, followed by KSA with 6.7 million guests and the UK with 5.9 million guests. Other country markets of note include Pakistan (4.2 million), the US (3.6 million), Russia (2.5 million), and Germany (2.5 million).
London retained its position as the top destination with 3.7 million guests, followed by Riyadh with 2.6 million and Mumbai with 2.5 million guests.
Cargo and flight movements
In 2023, DXB handled cargo totalling 1,805,898 tonnes, down 4.5% compared to the previous year. But Cargo volumes registered a growth of 20.4% year-on-year in the fourth quarter to reach 506,018 tonnes.
The double-digit increase in guest numbers during the year continued to reflect in flight movements at the hub which totalled 416,405 in 2023, the highest ever total movements recorded at DXB, and up 21.3% year-on-year.
Liege, Belgium: Liege Airport described 2023 as a mixed year characterized by a decline in cargo volumes and an increase in passenger traffic.
The airport which is among the top cargo hubs in Europe handled over 1 million metric tons of cargo transiting through its facilities. Additionally, it welcomed 175,606 passengers, up by 5.2% compared to 2022.
Liege Airport said the years 2020 and 2021 had been exceptional, with growth of 50% following the COVID-19 pandemic. It saw an explosion of e-commerce traffic despite the cessation of passenger flights (50% of air cargo is carried “belly” in passenger aircraft), while the normalization of the market had
begun in 2022 and continued through 2023.
In 2023, the airport recorded 33,548 aircraft movements, including 23,917 cargo movements (down 14% vs 27,840 in 2022).
“FedEx’s restructuring came into full effect in 2023 on top of a difficult international economic context (The war in Ukraine; downturn in the Chinese market; less consumer spending in Europe). All European cargo airports are experiencing a backlash. Even if the reference year is already a long way off, it’s worth noting that we are gaining 11.5% in tonnage in 2023 compared with 2019 (pre-COVID year), while having digested the FedEx restructuring (from April 2022) and the departure of AirBridge Cargo following the outbreak of war in Ukraine (from February 2022). This sets us apart from most European airports, which are behind on their 2019 cargo figures,” explains Laurent Jossart, CEO of Liege Airport.
But Jossart is optimistic about the airport’s future, saying, “With the new operating license, our Board of Directors has adopted our ambitious Master Plan and Business Plan “Vision 2040”. More than EUR 500
million will be invested over the next 20 years, to become a multimodal hub, exemplary in environmental terms, and a creator of jobs for our region.”
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed a new airline to Abu Dhabi International Airport, Terminal A, connecting the emirate with the Chinese city of Haikou, the capital city of the province of Hainan.
Hainan Airlines began operating on 30 January two weekly flights between Haikou and Abu Dhabi, increasing transport and trade links for both passengers and cargo.
With trade, tourism and business ties growing between Abu Dhabi and China, the flights are a response to growing demand for air travel options between the two countries and will be the first time a Chinese carrier operates scheduled flights to Abu Dhabi in a decade. Flights to Haikou will depart from the state-of-the-art new Terminal A and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global transport hub for both passengers and cargo.
Managing Director and Interim CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, Elena Sorlini, said: “We are pleased to welcome Hainan Airlines to Abu Dhabi. It marks an important milestone for Abu Dhabi Airports and the broader UAE-China relationship. The launch of this new airline boosts our connectivity, and the route will further enhance bilateral relations and create new business and tourism opportunities between the two global destinations.”
GM of Abu Dhabi Office Hainan Airlines, Mr. Ma Wang Yi Jin, added: “Hainan Airlines is honored to be part of this important milestone, coinciding with the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon. We are committed to providing exceptional service and convenience for passengers traveling between Abu Dhabi and Haikou. “
Dubai, UAE—Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), has entered into a landmark strategic framework agreement with Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies within Aerospace, Defense & Security and Digital Identity & Security.
The agreement expands Sanad’s Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services into the dynamic fields of airport security and air traffic control and digital operation, beckoning a pivotal moment in the region’s aviation landscape.
The milestone agreement was signed during the Dubai Air Show with Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad and Elias Merrawe, Vice president, Civil Business of Thales in the Middle East, marking a significant milestone in the region’s aerospace sector.
Building on the foundation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Sanad and Thales in 2022, the two companies are poised to deepen their collaboration in the rapidly developing realms of airport services.
Under the new agreement, the partnership will extend into the domain of airport security and digital operations, encompassing crucial areas such as airport safety and security systems in this endeavor, Thales will take the lead in designing and constructing these vital systems. Concurrently, Sanad will assume a pivotal role in overseeing critical tasks such as maintenance, installation, rigorous testing, and commissioning activities for these cutting-edge systems.
“Our strategic alliance with Thales represents a significant milestone in Sanad’s journey. By collaborating with an industry leader, we contribute to sustaining efficient operations at some of the busiest airports in the Middle East and Africa. We aim to shape a more cohesive and collaborative aviation industry rooted in engineering excellence and technological innovation. Additionally, we are contributing to building local capacity and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading aviation hub by expanding our partnerships, capabilities, and geographic footprint,” said Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad.
Elias Merrawe, Vice president, Civil Business of Thales in the Middle East, commented: “Sanad’s outstanding global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions combined with Thales’ high technologies will create prosperous synergies in the field of airport operations and security. This strategic agreement will bring innovative technologies to the front and boost local industrial growth. As we look to build a future that we can all trust, innovation and knowledge exchange play a vital role in developing a sustainable aviation future.”
Airports in the Middle East are projected to invest over USD 150 billion in capacity expansion due to global air passenger demand, which is projected to increase more than two-fold by 2040.
Sharjah, UAE—Sky One, a major aviation conglomerate headquartered in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, is poised to acquire Uplift Airport Services, an independent ground handling services company based in Bucharest International Airport in Romania.
A Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition has been signed between the companies.
Uplift Airport Services SRL is an independent ground handling company, fully licensed to provide full services for passengers and aircraft, such as ramp, cargo, ticketing, and catering handling services. Along with general aviation services for various types of flights, including business and VIP. Uplift’s dedicated team of over 200 employees is committed to ensuring seamless and efficient airline operations across the board.
“We see this association as part of Sky One’s commitment to offering a one-stop solution to airlines of all sizes. We believe that Uplift Airport Services would be the perfect addition to the company’s portfolio. The acquisition would represent a significant step forward in our expansion plans and align perfectly with our vision of providing a comprehensive suite of services to airlines worldwide. We are confident that this partnership will not only boost our growth but also enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry,” said Jaideep Mirchandani, Chairman of Sky One FZE.
With this MOU, Sky One further solidifies its position as an aviation pioneer, offering a wide spectrum of services, including leasing spare parts, MRO, ACMI, advisory services, and now world-class ground handling through Uplift Airport Services.
Brussels, Belgium—One year ago, Brussels Airport announced the first delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) via the NATO pipeline. But its high price slows down its use by most airlines.
This year, however, airlines are getting assistance from the federal government in a bid to accelerate the use of SAF and further develop the aviation sector. Brussels Airport said this assistance which comes in financial contribution will be made available to all airlines for all flights taking off from Brussels Airport starting this year.
SAF is one of the most promising solutions to enable the transition to climate-neutral flying by 2050. The SAF technology has been tested and approved, and SAF can be “blended” with regular fuel. Aircraft can fly with this blend, in varying proportions depending on the type of aircraft. As electric and hydrogen technologies for aircraft are not yet ready for use, SAF is the only means currently available to the aviation industry to strongly reduce CO2 emissions.
However, SAF costs considerably more than fossil fuel, mainly because of the higher raw materials and production cost (such as used and residue plant and animal oils and fats), but also the costs of investing in refineries. And yet airlines are interested in switching to this type of fuel.
Increasing the use of SAF is a priority for Brussels Airport. That is why, as part of the EUR 2 million subsidy awarded in April 2022 by the federal government to finance projects designed to make the aviation industry more sustainable, Brussels Airport Company has submitted a proposal for an incentive programme to encourage the use of SAF. This programme has been accepted by the Belgian government.
“Just as the aviation sector must use every means at its disposal to reduce its ecological footprint, we must, in Belgium and across Europe, use all the levers available to accelerate this movement. Thanks to this unique support mechanism, next year we will encourage companies to opt for SAF rather than fossil fuel: this is one concrete way, among others, of testing this means of reducing CO2 emissions in the aviation sector on a large scale,” said Georges Gilkinet, Minister of Mobility.
“Decarbonisation is a major objective, which we can pursue through various means. That is why Belgium has also introduced, at my initiative, a new system of variable charges of air traffic control skies for airlines, designed to encourage greener and quieter aviation. Gradually, these measures will make it possible to reduce the carbon footprint of flights departing from our national airport,” he added.
The SAF incentive will be made available to all passenger and cargo airlines, for both short-haul and long-haul flights departing from Brussels Airport, in the course of 2024. The SAF incentive amounts to a maximum of 200,000 euros per airline, which should enable them to cover up to 80% of the additional cost of using this fuel.
“Increasing the use of SAF as an aviation fuel is a key element in the aviation sector’s ambition to reduce its CO2 emissions to zero by 2050,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company. “The SAF incentive programme is one of the measures that Brussels Airport Company wanted to take to accelerate the sustainable development of aviation and promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels. We are happy that the federal government has accepted our proposal for a SAF incentive. As an airport, within the framework of our European Stargate programme, we have expressed the ambition to aim for 5% SAF on total kerosene use by airlines at Brussels Airport by 2026. That is faster than the European target, but we want to fully commit to this together with our airline partners.”
For more information about SAF as part of the Stargate project, see: www.greendealstargate.eu
RIYADH and LONDON– The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire a 10% stake in FGP TopCo (TopCo), the holding company of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, from Ferrovial S.A.
Under the terms of the agreement, PIF, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, will acquire 10% in TopCo. And Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, managing or advising $156bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,470 clients globally, via its infrastructure funds, will acquire 15% of Heathrow Airport.
The transaction is subject to complying with ROFO (Right of First Offer) and full tag-along rights which may be exercised by the other Topco shareholders pursuant to the Shareholders’ Agreement and the Articles of Association of the company, in addition to satisfaction of applicable regulatory conditions.
PIF says it is pleased to be investing in Heathrow, a world-class airport, which acts as a key gateway to the world. Heathrow is one of the world’s largest air traffic platforms, connecting the UK with global trading partners to help stimulate economic growth.
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