Narrow body jets will ‘change the shape of travel’, says Dubai Airports CEO
Speaking on the sidelines of the WTTC Global Summit in Malta, Dubai Airports chief Paul Griffiths shared that he believes the expansion of regional airports will be key in the next decade of travel.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, believes that advancements in aircraft technology will "change the shape of travel". Speaking at a roundtable on the sidelines of the World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Summit in Malta, Griffiths highlighted the expansion plans for Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai. The airport aims to have direct connections to over 600 cities, with the potential to serve secondary European cities such as Exeter, Valencia, Lyon, Marseille, and Baden-Baden.
Griffiths explained that smaller aircraft will be able to fly longer distances, making it possible to travel directly from these cities to Dubai and beyond. DWC plans to become the world's largest airport by 2032, featuring 400 terminal gates, five runways, and the capacity to handle up to 260 million passengers annually. Griffiths also emphasized the importance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in achieving net-zero carbon emissions, suggesting that Singapore's green fuel tax could serve as a model for other destinations.
He further discussed the potential elimination of passports within the next five years, focusing on enhancing the overall customer experience through facial recognition, AI-powered baggage scanning, and minimizing intrusive security measures.
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