Secondary airports must come first

The need for new airports, especially secondary airports and those catering to low-cost carriers has never been greater, according to Air Arabia CEO Adel Ali.

Speaking at the Future Airports Conference in Dubai, Ali stated that too many Middle East airports were underdeveloped or overly congested.

He claimed the industry needed to invest today in the infrastructure to meet the demands of tomorrow.

Ali pointed out that the regional demand for low cost carriers (LCCs) was growing at a rapid rate with more than 10 new LCCs introduced in the region in the last five years alone, making the case that secondary airports were vital to sustaining the industry's growth.

Ali used the successful development of Sharjah airport, Air Arabia's primary hub as a model for what other airports in the region should be considering.

Ali later told ATN that having voiced his concerns he felt confident that the issue was being taken seriously.

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"Countries here are determined to keep pace with the rapid expansion of economies in this region, efforts shall now be drawn into providing solutions to build for the future," he said.

"Shows like this [Future Airports Conference] tell the world that the airlines based in the Gulf are expanding at unprecedented rates and drives more attention toward challenges facing the industry and how local players should react."

Ali stated that he was confident the region would continue to do well.

"Even in an era of increasing fuel prices, inflation and competition, we will continue to see Middle Eastern airlines grow and prosper" he said.

"They have shown over the past two decades their ability to over come demographical and political challenges and been enormously successful, and this will continue to be the case."