More than 300 companies vying for a share of the $100 billion (Dh367 billion) Middle East aviation infrastructure project market were present with their innovative products and services at the Airport show 2017 which opened on Monday at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Over 7,500 aviation industry professionals joined exhibitors from more than 50 countries at the three-day show inaugurated by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman of Emirates airline and Chief Executive of the Emirates Group. He toured the world's second-biggest airport B2B event spread over 15,000 sqm.

"The aviation industry expansion in the Middle East continues to surpass average global growth rates. Future projections are equally promising and are behind the ongoing and considerable investment in aircraft, technology and infrastructure," said Sheikh Ahmed.

The Airport Show brings together solution providers from around the world giving them the opportunity to explore the latest trends and bring forward innovative products and services designed to support ongoing industry growth and service enhancements, he said.

Sheikh Ahmed met with the exhibitors, who explained about their latest technology products and services being offered for the aviation sector. Among the stalls that Sheikh Ahmed visited were emaratech, which described its latest baggage handling system being showcased at the Airport Show; the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, which is displaying the latest smart technologies being used to enhance customer experience; the General Authority of Civil Aviation Saudi Arabia, which explained the latest facilities and expansion of airports in the kingdom; Dubai Police, which described the latest training programme and security centres; Oman Airports Management Company, which is showcasing their unique virtual reality applications; and Huawei, which is showcasing a range of its latest smart solutions including the smart modular data centre and aviation cloud solution, as well as TAM Europe, the Denmark pavilion, Aaqius Switzerland, Nuctech Company and others. Billed as the world's most dynamic airport event, the Middle East's aviation industry showcase features a wide line up of innovative technology products and services from over 50 countries, including Germany, China, Switzerland, France, the UK and Denmark, which have set up dedicated pavilions.

Sheikh Ahmed also visited the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo Middle East co-located with the Airport Show, where he visited stands of Emirates Flight Catering, Pinar from Turkey, Unilever and Pearl's. He also met with the representatives of Women in Aviation Middle East, which hosted its second general assembly at the Airport Show.

Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibitions director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of the show, said: "We have experienced a much larger interest in Middle East aviation developments and the Airport Show in particular over the last year, signaling the growing confidence of international suppliers in the region's expansion programmes. We have experienced an almost 10 per cent growth in exhibitors this year."

Co-located with Airport Show, the fifth Global Airport Leaders' Forum opened with more than 36 aviation industry leaders and experts discussing the global airports outlook 2026, airport capacity, how airports can most effectively respond to the requirements of airlines, onboard retail, the latest technology trends and other highly relevant aviation industry issues.

With the Middle East on track to see a two-fold growth in air traffic within years, the airport show assumes greater importance for the global industry players. The value of 152 active aviation-related projects in the region rose to Dh211 billion in April 2017 regardless of a huge drop in oil revenues while more than $100 billion worth of airport projects are underway and planned across the Middle East.

These projects are intended to address a capacity gap as airport passenger volumes across the Middle East has outstripped capacity by 11 per cent last year.

With these, an additional capacity of 400 million passengers a year can be accommodated across the region's airports over the next 10 to 20 years, according to aviation industry experts.

Source: Khaleej Times