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Abu Dhabi is well on
its way to becoming a regional industrial
center, investing over $3 billion
to develop its petrochemical base
and increase its upstream gas handling
capacity alone.
Abu Dhabi is also pushing to establish
itself as a leading transit center
and tourist destination, upgrading
and expanding all elements of its
infrastructure and transport facilities.
Abu
Dhabi International Airport is playing
a key role as the major entry point
to the emirate; passenger arrivals
are increasing year by year.
Khaled
al Mohairbi, Abu Dhabi International
Airport's director, says overall traffic
through the airport in 1998 reached
3.4 million, an increase of 8 percent
over 1997. This included a 7 percent
increase in departures, a 10 percent
increase in arrivals and an 8 percent
increase in transit passengers.
Of
the total, 33 percent were from the
Middle East, 19 percent were from
Gulf Cooperation Council countries
and 25 percent were from Asia, including
13 percent from India. Another 11
percent of passengers were from Europe,
with a variety of other nationalities
making up the final 12 percent.
Mr.
Mohairbi says more than 40 airlines
now operate from the airport, linking
it to more than 90 international airports.
Over the past year a number of new
airlines were attracted by the airport's
strategic location and first-class
facilities. ''During 1998, we signed
agreements with two charter airlines,
Britannia and LTU, under which they
will utilize Abu Dhabi for their technical
stopovers and as a transit point during
flights between Europe and the Far
East, '' he says.
A number
of new airlines also began operations
out of Abu Dhabi during 1998. These
included Shaheen Air, Air Maldives,
Air Afrique and Czech Airlines. Their
entry has added northern Pakistan,
the Maldives, West Africa and Mauritania
to the countries and regions connected
to Abu Dhabi and increased the choice
and flexibility of routes available
to passengers.
Mr.
Mohairbi is confident that the major
expansion under way in all aspects
of the airport will confirm Abu Dhabi's
role as both a major transit point
and a major destination for the Gulf
and the wider Middle East region well
into the 21st century. ''Once our
airport expansion program is complete,''
he says, ''Abu Dhabi International
Airport will be offering services
in keeping with the promise of the
new millennium.''
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