Dubai Airports CEO predicts narrow-body aircraft will transform global travel

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, stated at the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in Malta that advancements in narrow-body aircraft technology are set to transform global travel. He noted that as smaller aircraft become capable of flying longer distances, secondary cities in Europe—such as Lyon, Marseille, Valencia, and Exeter—will gain direct connections to Dubai and the rest of the world.

This technological shift offers significant opportunities for regional airports to expand operations without the need for large, wide-body aircraft to ensure route profitability. Griffiths suggested that regional airports can become attractive investment hubs by improving their ground transportation links.

In tandem with these technological shifts, Dubai Airports is progressing with plans to expand Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) into the world’s largest aviation hub. The project, expected to be completed by 2032, aims to feature 400 gates and five runways, with a projected capacity of up to 260 million passengers per year.