|
Abu
Dhabi is well on its way to becoming a regional industrial
center, investing over $3 billion to develop its petrochemical
base and increase its upstream gas handling capacity
alone.
Abu Dhabi is also pushing to establish itself as a leading
transit center and tourist destination, upgrading and
expanding all elements of its infrastructure and transport
facilities.
Abu
Dhabi International Airport is playing a key role as
the major entry point to the emirate; passenger arrivals
are increasing year by year.
Khaled
al Mohairbi, Abu Dhabi International Airport's director,
says overall traffic through the airport in 1998 reached
3.4 million, an increase of 8 percent over 1997. This
included a 7 percent increase in departures, a 10 percent
increase in arrivals and an 8 percent increase in transit
passengers.
Of
the total, 33 percent were from the Middle East, 19
percent were from Gulf Cooperation Council countries
and 25 percent were from Asia, including 13 percent
from India. Another 11 percent of passengers were from
Europe, with a variety of other nationalities making
up the final 12 percent.
Mr.
Mohairbi says more than 40 airlines now operate from
the airport, linking it to more than 90 international
airports. Over the past year a number of new airlines
were attracted by the airport's strategic location and
first-class facilities. ''During 1998, we signed agreements
with two charter airlines, Britannia and LTU, under
which they will utilize Abu Dhabi for their technical
stopovers and as a transit point during flights between
Europe and the Far East, '' he says.
A
number of new airlines also began operations out of
Abu Dhabi during 1998. These included Shaheen Air, Air
Maldives, Air Afrique and Czech Airlines. Their entry
has added northern Pakistan, the Maldives, West Africa
and Mauritania to the countries and regions connected
to Abu Dhabi and increased the choice and flexibility
of routes available to passengers.
Mr.
Mohairbi is confident that the major expansion under
way in all aspects of the airport will confirm Abu Dhabi's
role as both a major transit point and a major destination
for the Gulf and the wider Middle East region well into
the 21st century. ''Once our airport expansion program
is complete,'' he says, ''Abu Dhabi International Airport
will be offering services in keeping with the promise
of the new millennium.''
|
