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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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