Airport Show, a leading annual airport industry B2B platform, kicks off tomorrow (May 24) with 95 exhibitors and more than 100 hosted buyers from across the globe taking part on 12,000 sq m of exhibition space.
The event will run until May 26 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) as the ICAO paints the ‘most optimistic scenario’ of the industry’s global recovery by June 2021 and the start of the journey to regain the lost pace of growth.
In Q3, up to 71 per cent of the 2019 levels, with 53 per cent for international and 84 per cent for domestic flights, will likely be recovered. A more pessimistic scenario foresees only a 49 per cent recovery - 26 per cent for international and 66 per cent for domestic.
As against 4.5 billion travellers in 2019, only 1.8 billion passengers took to the skies last year. The coronavirus pandemic led to a 50 per cent drop in domestic passenger traffic globally and 74 per cent in international traffic in 2020.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing 290 airlines or 82 per cent of total global air traffic, predicts global revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) improving by 50 per cent and growing to 2.8 billion with the opening of borders across countries by mid-2021.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports said the event will see the top decision-makers of key airports from across Mena and South Asia making their way to Dubai to search for new products and services for their facilities.
Sheikh Ahmed, also the Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group noted:
"Dubai’s aviation sector is considered to be a vital global hub and is a leading source of economic growth for the UAE and the whole world. Its successful recovery will gradually influence that of the entire worldwide network; therefore, it is important that our expertise, infrastructure and technologies facilitate this,"
"Airport Show is going to take place at a time when the worst year in aviation industry history is getting behind us and we are emerging from the coronavirus pandemic’s impact," he noted.
"Airport Show will remain the best venue to select and source the cutting-edge technologies and newest innovative products to enhance airport operations and get back the lost business. Airport Show will be a good opportunity for all the airport industry players in the wider Middle East region to discuss new collaborative opportunities, with the Arabian Gulf at its centre," he added.
Organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East, the 2021 edition is to be held across 12,000 sq m of exhibition space with 95 exhibitors and more than 100 hosted buyers from different parts of the world.
Speakers will be addressing the co-located events both physically and virtually. It will have three co-located events: Global Airport Leaders Forum (GALF), ATC Forum and Airport Security, with two new conferences added to GALF: Airport Passengers’ Experience and Airport Digital Transformation.
After Airport Show Digital+ in December 2020, Airport Show Hybrid+ 2021 will be both in digital and live formats during its three days run in DWTC’s Halls 7 to 8.
This format introduces a new digital element to the face-to-face event that gives those unable to attend the event the opportunity to remotely participate, learn and engage through the digital platform.
Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said
"the Airport Show has been a central meeting place to showcase the latest innovations and technologies and debate about the pertinent issues impacting the industry like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Cloud Technology and Drones."
"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, airport operators now face new challenges in minimizing personal contact, reducing crowds, limiting common access to high-touch surfaces, and preventing terminals from becoming potential virus breeding grounds," he added.
News Source: https://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2021/May/23-05/Airport-Show-2021-to-kick-off-tomorrow-in-Dubai
