Dubai Airports CEO on travel recovery, passenger numbers
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Emirates Airlines planes at Dubai International Airport, February 1, 2021
AFP | AFP | Getty Images
The air travel industry is “not quite out of the woods” — but the future could be brighter than the last 20 months, says Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports.
He told CNBC that there is reason to be optimistic about the future and “hopefully” it will turn out brighter than what the past 20 months have been. Dan MurphyOn Sunday, the Dubai Air Show will be open. the first major international air show since the Covid pandemic began.
He said that 20.7 million people have traveled to the city’s airports this year. This is a far cry from levels pre-pandemic, and may not be possible in 2025.
However, there is evidence of recovery in the form of world restrictions being relaxed and major international traffic flows starting to pick up again. According to him, traffic at Dubai International has increased 40% over six weeks.
Dubai Airports manages Dubai International Airports, Dubai World Central Airports and Dubai International Airports. In 2019, Dubai International served 86.4 Million customers.
Passenger forecasts
Griffiths predicts that Dubai Airports will see 26.7 Million passengers by the end of 2018. According to Griffiths, this figure could increase to 56million or 57million in 2022.
According to the CEO, he is cautiously optimistic about passenger numbers.
He said, “I hope there’s a case to be slightly more optimistic about forecasts but it is unknown territory.”
Dubai International has “very aggressively” returned to normal operation after an extended period of hibernation, he said to CNBC. We’re optimistic we can lead the recovery, and it will happen very soon.
When airlines and airports offer quality services and are affordable, passengers will be eager to fly again.
Paul Griffiths
Dubai Airports CEO
Griffiths was asked about the greatest threats to recovery of air travel. He said that the threat of an increase in Covid infection leading to lockdowns is “big problem”.
The Netherlands is celebrating its 70th anniversary just this weekend returned to a partial lockdown as soaring Covid cases stretched capacity at hospitals.
Griffiths stated that many people don’t have the courage to travel due to strict regulations and expensive Covid testing procedures. They also fear the rules could change quickly.
He said that the last thing he wanted was to embark on a trip and be stuck somewhere with to quarantine. However, he admitted that it is now less risky.
The economic situation — whether people have the disposable income to go on trips the way they used to — is another factor that will affect the recovery of the aviation sector, he said, but added that he is “fairly confident” about the demand.
“If the airlines and airports offer quality products and value for money, then people want to fly again,” he stated. Already, we are starting to notice the benefits of such a product.
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