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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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