Dubai's aviation sector expected to rise to US$44.5 billion by 2020: Dubai Airports

Bangkok - June 14, 2011 (WAM) - Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, has warned that traffic capacity constraints pose the single largest threat to aviation growth and the billions of dollars of additional economic activity its expansion is expected to generate in the Middle East and globally over the next decade, according to Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths.
"By 2020, aviation will support 373,000 jobs - or 22% of the total employment in Dubai - and US$45.4 billion in economic activity - or 32 percent of GDP." Griffith said in a speech delivered to air traffic management executives attending the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation's (CANSO) annual general meeting being held in Bangkok Griffith also said "by 2020 aircraft movements will surpass 560,000 and passenger numbers will climb to 98.5 million. Unfortunately, the airspace is currently not configured to support the growth and capacity bottlenecks are looming on the horizon. We have an outdated route structure, fragmented airspace and there is a lack of effective coordination on a regional scale." Global research firm Oxford Economics said in its recent report that the economic contribution of the aviation sector is expected to rise to US$44.5 billion (Dh163.4 billion) or 32 per cent of Dubai's GDP by 2020, up from the current US$22 billion, or 28 per cent of GDP.
By this time, Dubai will also see the aviation sector accounting for 372,900 jobs or about 22 per cent of the emirate's employment.
According to the research firm's estimates, Dubai's aviation sector currently supports 250,000 jobs or about 19 per cent of Dubai's employment.
Commissioned by Emirates airline and Dubai Airports, the study titled Explaining Dubai's Aviation Model highlights Dubai as "consensus-based, highly competitive and consumer-centric", generating significant economic benefits for the emirate and the countries it connects. - Emirates News Agency, WAM