The Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) has highlighted the future of airport design, technological innovation and passenger experience, bringing together aviation leaders to discuss ways to make air travel smoother, more accessible and more efficient.
The 13th edition of the Forum, held alongside the 25th
Airport Show at Dubai World Trade Centre, gathered government officials,
industry experts and aviation companies to explore emerging technologies,
operational resilience and the development of next-generation airports.
Discussions focused on Dubai’s ambitions to develop
world-class aviation infrastructure, the importance of collaboration across the
airport ecosystem and the role of artificial intelligence (AI), biometrics and
digital identity in transforming passenger journeys.
Dubai Focuses on Passenger Experience in Airport Development
Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City
Corporation and Dubai South, said Dubai’s ambition to build the world’s largest
airport extends beyond infrastructure size and passenger capacity, placing
passenger experience at the centre of development plans.
He stressed the importance of designing flexible airports
capable of integrating emerging technologies and adapting to the aviation
industry’s evolving requirements.
Al Zaffin described the Airport Show as a valuable platform
for airport developers, technology providers and operational specialists to
exchange expertise and explore the latest innovations.
Reflecting on the exhibition’s origins 25 years ago, he
recalled that it was established to bring airport technologies together under
one roof, eliminating the need for industry professionals to travel to
different countries to explore solutions. The initiative, he said, has created
benefits for Dubai and the wider region.
He reaffirmed the Corporation’s continued support for the
event, noting that the pace of technological advancement requires airports to
be designed with sufficient flexibility to incorporate new solutions over the
long term.
Collaboration, Resilience and Innovation
Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports,
identified collaboration, operational resilience and innovation as three
priorities shaping the future of aviation.
He emphasised that passengers experience their airport
journey as one continuous process rather than a series of separate services.
Improving capacity and service standards therefore requires stakeholders to
coordinate their efforts, align objectives and build mutual trust.
Al Joker noted that collaboration is particularly important
during operational disruptions, when effective responses depend on established
relationships, clear leadership, teamwork and lessons learned from previous
incidents.
He also highlighted the role of intelligent systems in
helping airports anticipate challenges and address them before passengers are
affected. However, he stressed that technology investments must deliver
practical improvements, including smoother, more reliable and less complicated
journeys.
Preparing the workforce for the future is equally important,
he added, as employees’ expertise, decision-making abilities and commitment to
passenger care translate technological capabilities into meaningful results.
‘City Terminal’ Cuts Passenger Journey Time
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 operates seamlessly behind the scenes
to simplify travel.
He said the most advanced airport may not necessarily be the
one where passengers encounter the most technology, but rather the one where
its presence is least noticeable.
This vision combines AI, digital identity, biometrics and
real-time data analytics to anticipate congestion, optimise resources and
provide personalised information and assistance. The approach recognises that
business travellers, families, transit passengers and Persons of Determination
have different needs and require more tailored services.
Al Shamsi presented the results of the ‘City Terminal’ pilot
project, which seeks to extend airport services into urban locations, allowing
passengers to complete travel formalities before reaching the airport.
He explained: "The trial included check-in, baggage
drop-off, security screening and passport control outside the airport, followed
by the transfer of passengers in secure vehicles directly to the airport
concourse, going beyond the traditional concept of city check-in
facilities."
According to Al Shamsi, the trial reduced the overall
journey time from at least 120 minutes to approximately 45 minutes,
representing a reduction of around 60%.
He said the results demonstrate the potential to redesign
airport procedures fundamentally and challenge traditional assumptions about
where the passenger journey begins.
Al Maktoum International Airport to Support Future-Ready
Design
Al Shamsi said the Al Maktoum International Airport project
offers an opportunity to rethink airport design and operations from the outset
by integrating infrastructure, technology and passenger experience within a
unified vision.
Rather than adding technological solutions to existing
facilities, the approach would incorporate flexibility into the airport’s
underlying design, allowing it to accommodate new technologies, operating
models and changing passenger expectations.
He concluded: "Our ambition is not to build an airport
with more technology, but an airport that becomes better because of
technology."
Strengthening Aviation Connectivity
Khalid Ibrahim Saif, Director of Aviation Economics and
Growth at the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), emphasised the need to
move beyond managing operational disruptions towards a broader strategy focused
on sustainable growth and stronger connectivity.
He said continued growth in air travel requires economic
expansion to be aligned with infrastructure development and improved
operational efficiency.
Saif also highlighted the importance of closer integration
between airports, airlines and regulatory authorities, supported by smart
technologies and data-driven decision-making.
Such coordination, he noted, would help create a more
resilient aviation ecosystem capable of adapting to future developments,
strengthening the sector’s competitiveness and improving the passenger
experience.
The Forum’s discussions underscored a shared direction for
the aviation industry: developing airports that combine adaptable
infrastructure, intelligent systems and coordinated operations to support
growing passenger demand while making journeys more seamless and accessible.-TradeArabia News Service