Dubai's Air Travel Future Needs to Move Away From Mass Misery
14.12.2023 - 15:57
/ skift.com
/ Paul Griffiths
/ Selene Brophy
/ Ras Al-Khaimah
/ Adnan Kazim
/ Emirates Airline
In the dynamic world of air travel, sustainable growth and adapting to shifting demographics stand as both opportunities and challenges.
Dubai’s approach to these growing global concerns was unpacked as a case study for the future of air travel at the Skift Global Forum East Thursday.
By integrating various transport modes – autonomous cars, trains, and planes – at different stages of a journey, destinations can pioneer a multi-modal transport strategy, according to Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
By integrating various transport modes – autonomous cars, trains, and planes – at different stages of a journey, destinations can pioneer a multi-modal transport strategy, according to Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
Griffiths shared a “eureka moment” he experienced on his way to speak at a conference. His short flight delayed was delayed and he decided to drive his car instead. But even though he had a return ticket, he was stuck and had to drive back. This frustration sparked his curiosity about alternative options for short-haul travel.
“Fifty percent of the world’s aviation is on sectors of lower than 500 miles. If we could replace a good proportion of that with the idea of having autonomous vehicles as part of a network being able to accommodate us on those overnight journeys for long distances, what then happens [is] the misery of mass transportation starts to disappear,” said Griffiths.
Griffiths, Adnan Kazim, chief commercial officer of Emirates Airline, and John Bevan, CEO of dnata Travel Group, discussed how Dubai is innovating to grow its tourism offering. The debate, spearheaded by Skift Advisory’s Oliver Martin, looked at Dubai’s growing appeal and ways its “blank canvas” could benefit consumers, the region, and the planet.
A multi-modal approach fits in with rising sustainability aspirations in multi-destination long-haul travel.
Travelers should be able to seamlessly visit Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Saudi Arabia, or any regional destinations in one trip. The result should be a more enriching and meaningful long-haul experience. And potentially a sustainable one at that.
Emirates’ Kazim argued that the Gulf carrier’s fleet expansion highlights its commitment to sustainability. Kazim said the airline is set to introduce 350 new aircraft by 2030 and that these wide-body aircraft showcase Emirates’ commitment to large-scale, long-haul operations.
He discussed the Gulf carrier’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Road Map, having tested SAF on its flights to Sydney. The airline has also secured a SAF supply of 3 million kilograms for 2024-2025.
Kazim, however, stated the aviation sector needed a wholesale change involving government, supply chain, and manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus