Dubai has an advanced aviation system

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, said that Dubai has an advanced aviation and technology system, through which it creates the ideal environment to stimulate innovation in the aviation sector, especially with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

This came on the occasion of the launch of “Future Aviation Week” today at the “Museum of the Future” in Dubai, which is organized by “Emirates Airlines” and the “Museum of the Future”, with the participation of an elite group of officials, CEOs and aviation sector experts who will discuss it over the course of 3 days.

His Highness added: “Future Aviation Week brings together all the necessary components to achieve an advanced aviation system based on the pivotal role of the aviation sector in enhancing global mobility and achieving economic prosperity and the importance of modern technologies in addressing the challenges facing the sector. The discussions, diverse viewpoints and practical solutions that will be presented throughout The next three days will constitute a strong impetus to achieve unprecedented achievements and chart a promising future vision for the aviation sector.”

Future trends
In a dialogue session on Dubai’s vision of the most important future trends in the field of aviation and logistics services, on the first day of the “Future Aviation Week,” His Excellency Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, stressed that Dubai has all the elements of leadership in employing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics. And adopting the latest innovative practices in all sectors of transport, air cargo and aviation.

During his speech, His Excellency reviewed the most important efforts and initiatives of the Dubai Future Foundation in supporting innovation in various sectors in general and in the aviation sector in particular, pointing out that the Museum of the Future, which is hosting this event, represents a global incubator for the most important innovative ideas and creative minds to work on designing the future of aviation. Jointly to keep pace with the tremendous growth of this important economic sector, which constitutes one of the most important pillars of the future economy in Dubai and the UAE.

Balance between the importance of development and meeting demand
For his part, Secretary General of the Arab Air Transport Association, Abdul Wahab Tuffaha, called for a balance between developing passenger experiences and innovating creative solutions in the aviation sector in conjunction with achieving the requirements to meet the growing demand for travel traffic now and in the future. He said: “There are three pillars of a successful aviation industry: meeting the traveler’s aspirations, developing infrastructure, contributing to the local product, providing job opportunities, and economic and social development.”

Tuffaha stressed that the future of the aviation industry is promising, thanks to the industry’s flexibility and adaptation, after it has become a global means of transportation, a contributor to economic growth, a factory of opportunities, and a laboratory for the latest technology applications, pointing to the importance of rapid technological development that ensures staying informed and elevating and enhancing the customer journey.

Enhance travel efficiency
A key session was attended by Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, Adel Al Redha, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Emirates Airlines, Tony Whitby, Director of Network and Strategy at Air Arabia, and Wouter van Werch, Executive Vice President of Airbus. To enhance the capabilities of air travel and activate its future opportunities.

Participants in the session, which discussed opportunities to adapt to dense airport environments and make optimal use of them, considered that growth in the aviation sector worldwide will be comprehensive, but the Middle East and Asia region will be the locomotive of this growth and enjoy the largest share of it.

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Emirates Airlines, Adel Al Redha, stressed that growth is the basic feature of the aviation sector in the Emirates. He called for concerted efforts between decision makers, airlines and supply chain operators to confront emerging challenges and advance sustainable growth.

On the other hand, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, considered that the future holds tremendous opportunities for airline companies around the world, especially in Dubai, which has an advanced infrastructure and technology that makes its airports among the best in the world, pointing to Flydubai’s ability to Continue to grow and expand within promising markets in Europe, Asia and Africa, supported by its strong partnerships and networks, especially with its recent growth rate of 120%.

For his part, Director of Network and Strategy at Air Arabia, Tony Whitby, pointed out that the growth of the aviation sector continues despite some challenges in the field of supply chains, stressing that the UAE represents a driving force for the growth of the global aviation sector.

Airbus Executive Vice President Wouter van Wersch confirmed that the demand for aircraft has witnessed a tremendous increase over the past two years, noting that the current challenges are supply chains, operational costs, and inflation. He expected that the number of aircraft operating within the aviation sector would reach 48,000 aircraft by 2043, compared to 24,000 aircraft today, considering that the Middle East will play a fundamental role in driving global growth.

The future of airports
Khalifa Al Zaffin, CEO of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, participated; And CEO of Riyadh Airports, Ayman Abu Abah; Omar Bin Adi, Chief Technology and Infrastructure Officer at Dubai Airports; and Executive Vice President of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, Nicolas Vandable, in another discussion session that examined how to modernize airport infrastructure and the next wave of future aviation technologies.

The participants agreed that the future of airports is based on basic pillars, foremost of which is reducing friction points at the airport by activating the system of vital biometric data for travelers, such as facial recognition technology, while protecting their personal data, building confidence in technology applications that ensure the security of individuals and airports, and expanding the use of instant electronic visas. Enhancing cooperation between all concerned parties and stakeholders in the field of airports, and increasing investment in cybersecurity, in order to provide a smooth and comfortable journey for all travelers.

The speakers presented future experiments in airports, such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Paris, that work to continue facilitating travel procedures through airports, enhancing the security of biometric databases, taking advantage of the Internet of Things, customizing the traveler experience, adopting greater design thinking, and improving operational efficiency.

Aircraft cabins and communication services
The last dialogue session presented a set of future visions for aircraft cabins and communication services that employ the latest technology on board to improve the passengers’ experience. The participants reviewed an overview of the future designs, features and characteristics that their companies are working on to design the future of aircraft cabins and elevate the passengers’ journey to new levels.

Participating in this session were Mark Heller, CEO of Recaro, Nils Stenstrup, CEO of Entertainment and Communications at Thales, Ken Sun, CEO of Panasonic Avionics, Donald Buckman, Vice President of Commercial Mobility at Viasat, and Chief Strategy Officer. Collins Airspace interior design and cabin experience by Mark Vaughan.

Future of Aviation Week
Emirates Airlines and the Museum of the Future are organizing the “Future Aviation Week” events from October 15 to 17, 2024, with the participation of ministers from the UAE government, senior government officials, industry leaders in the aviation, space, and air cargo sectors, and experts in maintenance, repair, refurbishing, and logistics services. The international event constitutes a platform for displaying exceptional visions for the future of aviation. It also provides opportunities and open spaces for discussion about improving the passenger experience, meeting future demand for travel traffic, enhancing logistics services and activating air freight, and discussing the latest developments in artificial intelligence and extended reality and the possibilities of intensifying their uses in developing future aviation.