Dubai to host 3rd edition of Air Traffic Control Forum in June 2020

Glimpses into Air Traffic Control (ATC) modernisation and innovation will be provided to aviation industry stakeholders at the ATC Forum which is returning to Dubai for its third straight year in June 2020 during the record-setting Airport Show, the world’s largest annual airport industry gathering. The event is coming at a time when it has been predicted that more than half of the Top 20 biggest traffic flows will include Asia-Pacific, while four will come from the Middle East. Five of the 20 fastest growing traffic flows over the next two decades will also be in the MENA region.

ATC Forum is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. His Excellency Mohammed A. Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), remarked, “ATC Forum will help regulators and the stakeholders understand the latest ATM developments and trends to make the aviation industry safe and secure.”

Air Traffic Control is of tremendous importance in the Arabian Gulf region which is projected to have over 2.6 million flights per annum by 2030. The UAE will be handling about 1.85 million flights annually in 2030, when the average daily flights will reach 5,087. The ATC market is expected to grow globally to US$57 billion by 2022.

Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibitions Director, Reed Exhibitions, said, “Though air traffic congestion has improved drastically across the region, a global study has projected the number of passengers delayed between one and two hours will grow from around 50,000 each day now to around 470,000 a day in 2040 due to ATC congestions. Airports and passengers desire a safe and expeditious flow of air traffic and ATC Forum will bring global ATC leaders and experts to Dubai to help the region’s authorities ensure they are ready for the projected growth in traffic flows.”