"Two UAE airports get licenses"

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Two airports get licences
By Bassma Al Jandaly
UAE - Gulf News


The General Civil Aviation Authority has approved the facilities at Fujairah
and Ras Al Khaimah as international airports, an official said yesterday.

"This milestone was reached after more than two years of work to meet the
new international standard for international airports set by the
International Civil Aviation Organisation," said Mohammad Ganem Al Gaith,
Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority.

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Communications and Chairman of the
General Civil Aviation Authority board, formally announced the licences at a
meeting of the Authority.

The minister presented licences to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah airports on
behalf of the Authority.

The General Civil Aviation Authority has carried out comprehensive security
audits at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, Al Gaith said. Sharjah International
Airport will also be included in the audit process, he said.

The General Civil Aviation Authority's profit for this year is Dh20 million.

He said the civil aviation sector was very dynamic, and with the UAE being
the regional leader, the country is continually increasing its efforts to
ensure the highest standards throughout this industry.

Growth in civil aviation has an economic ripple effect across many sectors
and creates strong revenue growth for many companies, he said.

"An airport combines many different facilities and services. Its operations
are complex and need to be carefully managed to remain both safe and
efficient.

"We have identified 16 key areas which will be separately inspected at each
airport over the next year," he said.

At the same meeting, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai
Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group, signed an agreement with Al
Mansouri to recognise Emirates airline's security training programmes.

Analysts said the number of flights touching the UAE this year grew by 15.84
per cent.

The total number of flights should grow by at least another 6 per cent in
2005, they said.

There are several new national airlines operating in the country, and that
should guarantee continued growth in the sector, they said.


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