GALF Explores Future of Airport Innovation and Passenger Experience । Flightnews24

Dubai Puts Passenger Experience at the Centre of Airport Planning

Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said Dubai’s ambition to develop the world’s largest airport involves more than increasing infrastructure capacity. Improving the passenger experience remains a central consideration in its development strategy.

He stressed the need for adaptable airport designs that can accommodate emerging technologies and respond to changing industry requirements.

Al Zaffin described the Airport Show as an important meeting point for airport developers, technology companies and operational specialists to share expertise and assess new solutions.

Reflecting on the exhibition’s establishment 25 years ago, he said its original purpose was to bring airport technologies together in one location, allowing industry professionals to explore innovations without travelling to multiple countries.

He added that the initiative has delivered benefits for Dubai and the wider region. Continued support for the event remains important as rapid technological advances increase the need for infrastructure capable of incorporating new solutions over time.

Collaboration and Resilience Shape Aviation Priorities

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, identified collaboration, operational resilience and innovation as key priorities for the aviation sector.

He said passengers view their airport experience as a single, continuous journey rather than a collection of separate services. Improving capacity and service quality therefore requires stakeholders to coordinate their activities, establish common objectives and develop trust.

Cooperation becomes particularly important during operational disruptions, he noted, when effective responses depend on clear leadership, teamwork, established relationships and lessons from previous incidents.

Al Joker also highlighted the potential of intelligent systems to identify emerging challenges and help airports address them before they affect passengers. However, he stressed that technology investments should produce measurable benefits, including more reliable, efficient and straightforward journeys.

Workforce development is another essential element, he added. Employees must be equipped with the expertise and decision-making skills needed to turn technological capabilities into better passenger services.

City Terminal Trial Cuts Journey Time by Around 60%

Abdullah Al Shamsi, Senior Manager of Future of Things at Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), outlined a vision for airport innovation by 2032, in which technology works largely behind the scenes to make travel simpler.

He argued that the most advanced airport may not be the one where passengers see the most technology, but the one where technology makes the journey easier without drawing attention to itself.

The approach combines AI, digital identity, biometrics and real-time data analytics to anticipate congestion, improve resource allocation and deliver personalised information and assistance. It also recognises the differing requirements of business travellers, families, transit passengers and Persons of Determination.

Al Shamsi presented findings from the ‘City Terminal’ pilot project, which aims to extend airport services to urban locations so passengers can complete key travel procedures before arriving at the airport.

The trial included check-in, baggage drop-off, security screening and passport control outside the airport. Passengers were then transported in secure vehicles directly to the airport concourse, extending the concept beyond conventional city check-in facilities.

According to Al Shamsi, the process reduced total journey time from at least 120 minutes to approximately 45 minutes, a reduction of around 60%.

He said the findings demonstrate how airport procedures could be redesigned, challenging traditional assumptions about where the passenger journey begins.

Al Maktoum International Airport Offers Opportunity for New Design

Al Shamsi said the Al Maktoum International Airport project provides an opportunity to integrate infrastructure, technology and passenger services from the beginning rather than retrofitting new systems into existing facilities.

Building flexibility into the airport’s underlying design would help it accommodate emerging technologies, evolving operating models and changing passenger expectations.

“Our ambition is not to build an airport with more technology, but an airport that becomes better because of technology,” he said.

Dubai Seeks Stronger Aviation Connectivity

Khalid Ibrahim Saif, Director of Aviation Economics and Growth at the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), called for a broader approach to aviation development that moves beyond responding to operational disruptions and focuses on sustainable growth and stronger connectivity.

He said rising air travel demand requires economic growth to be matched by infrastructure investment and improvements in operational efficiency.

Saif also emphasised closer coordination between airports, airlines and regulatory authorities, supported by smart technologies and data-driven decisions.

Greater integration, he said, would help build a more resilient aviation sector capable of responding to future challenges, maintaining competitiveness and improving the passenger experience.

The forum highlighted a common priority among aviation leaders: combining adaptable infrastructure, intelligent technology and coordinated operations to accommodate growing passenger demand while making air travel more efficient, accessible and seamless.

Source: TradeArabia

Nigeria and Germany are working to modernise their aviation relationship through a review and planned ratification of their existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), as Lufthansa Group prepares to broaden its operations in the country.

The development followed a meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and representatives of Lufthansa Group.

The delegation included Alexandra Dietzen-Zill, Senior Manager for Aeropolitical Relations and Traffic Rights at Lufthansa Group, and Walid Mahmud, Sales Executive at Lufthansa Technik, Aero Alzey. Discussions centred on the BASA signed by Nigeria and Germany in 2010.

Lufthansa representatives said the agreement now requires updating and ratification to reflect changes in the aviation relationship between the two countries.

Dietzen-Zill praised the Nigerian government for reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s aviation sector. She specifically pointed to Nigeria’s accession to and implementation of the Cape Town Convention, saying such measures, alongside other reforms, were helping improve confidence in the Nigerian aviation market and reinforce its importance in the global aviation system.

She said Lufthansa Group was interested in establishing a stronger and more up-to-date aviation framework between Nigeria and Germany.

According to Dietzen-Zill, Germany’s Ministry of Transport is reviewing the existing BASA and working towards completing the revision process before its eventual ratification.

The Lufthansa delegation also outlined plans to bring Eurowings, another airline within the Lufthansa Group, into the Nigerian market. Operations are expected to begin next year, with the carrier planning to use Boeing 737-series aircraft. The move would add to air connectivity between Nigeria and Germany.

The meeting also covered wider opportunities for cooperation and measures that could create a more supportive environment for long-term investment and international airline operations in Nigeria.

Keyamo welcomed the Lufthansa delegation and acknowledged the group’s long-standing presence and established operations in the Nigerian market.

He said the Federal Government remained committed to policies designed to support legitimate aviation investment, improve connectivity and encourage international airlines to expand their presence in Nigeria.

Keyamo also assured Lufthansa Group that his ministry was prepared to support the carrier within the scope of his responsibilities. He said the government remained open to engagement with international aviation stakeholders seeking to expand their operations and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The minister added that the administration would continue pursuing policies aimed at improving investor confidence, strengthening bilateral aviation ties and advancing Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading aviation hub in Africa.