Recommendations for easing congestion above the UAE’s skies have been put forward in a study carried out on behalf of the civil aviation authority.
Airbus ProSky, the air traffic management subsidiary of the European plane maker Airbus, carried out the investigation into the outlook for air traffic through to 2030.
The study came up with 53 recommendations to help prepare the UAE for the future and alleviate current saturation levels.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) now intends to try to implement the suggestions, which were not disclosed.
“GCAA is committed to making the difficult choices and putting forth effort to realise our air traffic management strategic plan for 2030,” said Ahmed Al Jallaf, the executive director of Air Navigating Services at GCAA.
“This study has not only reached a significant milestone, but has produced extremely important research allowing us to be the Middle East air traffic management leader and set examples for other regions.”
A build-up of air traffic in the skies above the UAE and the GCC has been described by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) as one of the most serious problems threatening the growth of the aviation in the region.
Tony Tyler, the director and chief executive of the Iata, said in June that aircraft were frequently delayed on the ground or kept flying holding patterns above the region’s airports for up to an hour.
“Today’s air traffic management environment is about collaboration, transparency and leadership,” said Paul-Franck Bijou, the chief executive of Airbus ProSky.
tarnold@thenational.ae
