Regional mega airports face hurdles

Dubai: Congested airspace, restricted flight paths and dated technical systems could undermine the potential of mega airports in the UAE and other parts of the Middle East, industry experts warned at the Air Traffic Control conference at the Airport Show.

Two representatives of one of the world's leading air navigation services providers said precise planning was vital for the new generation of airports in the region.

In his opening day keynote address at the conference, Dieter Kaden, chairman and CEO of German air navigation services provider Deutsche Flug-sicherung GmbH (DFS), spoke about the challenges and solutions involved in modernising airspace management.

"Air traffic is growing quickly in the Gulf and throughout Asia," said Kaden, whose company coordinates 3.1 million aircraft movements in German airspace each year.

"This will lead to complex and high-density air traffic areas, which will challenge the existing air traffic control infrastructure and organisations."

The aviation industry has dealt with problems of crowded runways and limited seat capacity.

However, as many speakers at the conference pointed out, new challenges such as congested airways and managing the growing number of air movements pose a threat to mega airports such as Dubai World Central's Al Maktoum International Airport, which will have six major runways when it opens.

These concerns were also expressed by Achim Baumann, Gulf regional manager for DFS, who emphasised the crucial importance of involving air traffic control experts in the planning stages of new developments.

"Only a common and coordinated approach between all air traffic management stakeholders will lead to sustainable capacity growth," said Baumann, who outlined solutions for re-working airspace and route structure and said cross-border communication was a key to minimising problems.