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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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