Gulf aviation 2012: a vision of the near future

These are the sort of questions that Gulf travellers will be asking in 2012 for the regional aviation sector is going through its biggest ever expansion and will account for around 10 per cent of the world's total aircraft in just five years time.

Dubai's second airport at Jebel Ali will open its first runway by the middle of next year. The Al Maktoum International Airport covers 140 square kilometers and over time is phased to grow into the world's biggest airport able to handle 120 million passengers a year.

Meanwhile, the $4.1bn third terminal at the existing DXB Dubai International Airport should open in the summer next year, more than doubling capacity.

A380 orders

Indeed, the Gulf airlines would be expanding even faster this year except for delays in the delivery of aircraft, most notably the A380 'super jumbo' from Airbus. But at the Airshow this week Emirates added more A380s to its number.

Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways said it is to purchase 24 Airbus aircraft, including four of the double-decked A380s, four ultra-long range A340-500s, four A340-600s and twelve A330-200s, the most efficient widebody twin. And Abu Dhabi is spending $6.8bn on a new airport.

Airport building boom

Airport infrastructure in the Gulf is on a real roll. Other projects include a $500m expansion in Bahrain, a $2.1bn airport for Kuwait, and more than $12bn on three new airports in Saudi Arabia.

To make this investment pay the Gulf States are clearly going to have to channel huge numbers of global travellers through these airports, and the spending on new aircraft for the state-owned carriers shows how this will be achieved.

Aviation analysts think over capacity in the sector is inevitable with such a wild investment spree underway. However, this is all going to be great news for the travelling public, both living in the Gulf and transiting the region, as it promises better deals on flights, newer and more comfortable aircraft and much improved airports.

Does it make economic sense? Probably not in the short term but the longer term benefits of aviation in promoting economic diversification are well known and this is most likely the bigger picture.

See also
Latest Dubai Airshow news
Record Dubai Air Show 2007 orders signal aviation boom
Video: Dubai Airshow Takes Off