Latest news with #DWC
Bloomberg
15 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Griffiths: Dubai Airports World's Best Connected
CC-Transcript 00:00Talk us through some of the trends in the volumes that you've been seeing in the first half of this year. Well, certainly it's been a great first half for the entire city. We've seen an average monthly traffic hit 7.7 million customers per month, which is a new record. It cements our position for the 11th year running as the world's busiest international airport, with the busiest month being January with 8.5 million customers through Q2 was our busiest so far, 22.5 million customers through the airports. And despite, as you said earlier, the some of the disruption we had, that really did not affect our business. And we are on course to achieve a record year. Something like 96 million customers expected through our doors by the end of this current year. So I think trading results have been very good load factors on our airlines very high. And we're getting a record numbers of flights, numbers of airlines, different numbers of cities in our network. So all good. Yeah. So 96 million is still the target for the end of this year. When do you when do you think you're going to join the 100 million club? Well, I think we'll be the only member of the 100 million club, hopefully during the course of 2020. So we're fairly confident that the airline growth that we're seeing at DXP and DWC will continue to be strong. We've now got forecasts, as you say, 96,000,020 26. We're pretty sure we're going to hit that 100 million mark, 269 destinations directly from Dxp, 92 International Airlines, and you can reach 107 countries from Dxp. So I think we're not only the world's busiest international airport, but we are hopefully also the world's best connected. Talk us through the operational impact, the brief closure of the Dubai airspace had on the airports and how you thought about it. Just walk us through the decision making of what happens during that episode of the Iran Israel war and the decision making you had to make. Right. Quite at the top of the world's most international and busiest airport. It was an interesting time and we were very fortunate that we've consolidated all of our systems into a quite unique airport operations control center, which is staffed 24/7. I was in touch with them throughout the time. Fortunately, the disruption was minimal and it lasted for very short amounts of time. And the resilience of our customer base, I think shone through. We were only down 3.9% in the single month during May and June and down in flights and 5.5% in customers. But we've seen an incredible bounce back and I think the projections for the year are unchanged as a result of the resilience of the customer base. And I think that's testimony to the fact that Dubai is seen as a very, very good place to live, to work, good for commerce, good for tourism, and very well connected. Has there been any change in the geographical breakdown of where visitors are coming from? No, we've still got the same breakdown with India being our top market 5.9 million customers during the course of the first half of the year. KSA 3.6 million, the UK 3 million. Pakistan 2.1 million and the US 1.6 million. And those numbers really don't change. Certainly the ranking doesn't change. And as you see on the screen now, London, Riyadh, Mumbai, Jeddah and New Delhi being the top five. Now in our route structure. Yeah. Well, what would you say is the split between passenger transiting and passengers actually stopping at Dubai as a final destination? And how does it impact the profitability, overall profitability of Dubai Airports having one of the other. Well, it's been really interesting because we thought as we were outgrowing some of the other airline and airport combinations across the world that our transit customers would exceed significantly the growth of our point to point markets. But the good thing is that actually we've seen none of that. We've seen actually a resilience, particularly in the point to point markets where now about 60, 40% in favor of customers visiting Dubai. And of course, the economic multiplication that that brings to the city is enormous compared to those in transit. But obviously transit customers as well as point to point customers or both contribute to a very healthy airline network. And we've seen huge increases in airline load factors and large numbers of increases in flights as a result of that.
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Ten-year-old dances her way to history
Ivana became the first Malaysian to win a silver medal in the DWC finals in Burgos, Spain. KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia made ballet history when a Sabahan ballerina won silver in the ballet solo category at Dance World Cup (DWC) 2025 finals in Spain earlier this month. Ivana Iman Mohammad Ezral became the first Malaysian to break into the top three when the 10-year-old stunned judges with her fun, fresh and graceful moves during the finals held in Burgos, Spain. She competed against elite dancers from ballet powerhouses such as Russia, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, China and the United Kingdom. Her mother Dr Natassia Sarah Mohd Danny said Ivana Iman is the first Malaysian to win the second highest prize in the ballet solo category in the DWC finals. She added that according to a judge, Ivana Iman's triumph was not just a personal win but a national milestone. Little winner: Ivana with her father Mohammad Ezral and mother Dr Natassia Sarah. Her silver medal and score of 89.3% was just 0.7% shy of the gold winner from England. 'To see such poise, technical excellence and storytelling at her age, from a country not historically known for classical ballet, is nothing short of extraordinary,' Dr Natassia Sarah recalled the judge as saying. The DWC, often referred to as the Olympics of youth dance, sees over 120,000 dancers from more than 70 countries competing through rigorous qualifiers, with only the top dancers advancing to the finals. The classical ballet solo is one of the most competitive categories, judged by former principal dancers and internationally renowned choreographers. Ivana Iman's achievement represents a breakthrough for Malaysia in global performing arts and positions her as a rising figure in the international ballet scene, her mother said. Prior to this, the eldest of four siblings had joined her first international competition at the Dance World Cup 2024 grand finals in Prague, the Czech Republic. Ivana Iman finished seventh in the soloist (any style ballet) category with a score of 89.4% against competitors from 52 other countries. Dr Natassia Sarah also paid tribute to her husband and Ivana Iman's father, Mohammad Ezral Ansari, for being the support system behind their daughter's victory. 'He is the superhero who juggles all her training and needs,' she added. She also thanked all the sponsors, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the Sabah government, Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Fong Hin and Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali for supporting and assisting Ivana Iman's journey. "All these sponsors greatly helped with tickets and accommodation to compete in Spain,' she said.
Arabian Post
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Arabian Post
UAE Advances Autonomous Mobility Across Airside and Urban Transport
dnata has introduced six autonomous electric baggage tractors at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport, marking a pioneering shift in airport ground operations. The EZTow tractors, designed by TractEasy, tow up to four baggage containers at speeds near 15 km/h, operating at Level 3 autonomy under limited human oversight. By early 2026 the system is set to upgrade to Level 4 self-driving capability. The AED 6 million rollout seeks to enhance efficiency, safety, and allow staff to be redeployed to complex tasks. This deployment is one of the first live uses of autonomous ground vehicles in commercial aviation environments, with an operational testbed for wider adoption. dnata, alongside partners Dubai Airports, TractEasy and the General Civil Aviation Authority, will refine operating models and regulations ahead of DWC's planned capacity of 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. Abu Dhabi's Masdar City has simultaneously launched Level 4 autonomous shuttle testing in collaboration with Mubadala's Solutions+, under the Integrated Transport Centre's Smart and Autonomous Systems Council. A 2.4‑kilometre geofenced route connects key locations such as the Siemens Building, IRENA HQ, My City Centre Masdar Mall and Central Park. Initially monitored by onboard safety officers, these vehicles will transition to remote monitoring as testing progresses. Masdar City's CEO Ahmed Baghoum emphasised the alignment of this project with environmental and digital innovation goals. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority has secured a partnership with China's Baidu to deploy 50 Level 4 autonomous taxis — the RT6 model — by the end of 2025. These taxis, equipped with over 40 sensors, will serve as a data-gathering pilot, with long-term plans for scaling up to 1,000 vehicles across the city based on performance data and passenger feedback. These simultaneous advancements reflect a coordinated national approach to smart mobility encompassing airside, urban shuttle services and public transport. They support the UAE's broader ambition to become a global testbed for autonomous vehicle integration across infrastructure sectors. Industry bodies, including the International Air Transport Association, note trials of automated ground support equipment in more than 15 countries, but most remain in experimental stages. The UAE, by placing these systems into everyday operations, is accelerating both regulatory frameworks and deployment standards. dnata's initiative extends beyond DWC; company executives indicate plans to replicate autonomous ground vehicle programmes in global markets, utilising the insights and regulatory models developed in Dubai. Abu Dhabi's shuttle testing further solidifies the emirate as a living lab for sustainable, intelligent transport, reinforcing Masdar City's role within the Smart Autonomous Vehicles Industry cluster. Public deployment of driverless urban taxis complements these efforts. Abu Dhabi saw the launch of the Middle East's first fully autonomous taxis—powered by China's WeRide and WeRide's partnership with Uber—on public roads in May 2025. The service operates across Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, linking to commercial hubs such as Abu Dhabi Global Market, signalling readiness for scaled commercial use. The cumulative effect of these initiatives signals the UAE's transformation into a reference point for integrated autonomous mobility. Airport automation, urban shuttles, and public robotaxi services are all progressing concurrently, establishing precedent-setting frameworks for infrastructure, regulation, safety, and data governance. These deployments are expected to shape future mobility landscapes both domestically and on a global scale. Air corridor mapping for air taxis and cargo drones remains underway, with regulatory corridors expected by late 2026 and piloted vehicles in the sky by 2026. This aerial component integrates elegantly with the ground-focused programmes, laying the foundation for a comprehensive autonomous ecosystem.
TECHx
15-07-2025
- Business
- TECHx
dnata Deploys Autonomous Vehicles at DWC Airport
Home » Smart Sectors » Travel & Hospitality » dnata Deploys Autonomous Vehicles at DWC Airport dnata, a global air and travel services provider, has announced the deployment of autonomous vehicles at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC). The initiative introduces next-generation technology to ramp operations. dnata now operates six electric EZTow tractors, developed by TractEasy, at the airport. Traditionally, human drivers transported baggage between the terminal and aircraft. The new autonomous vehicles streamline the process by towing up to four baggage containers (ULDs) at once, traveling at speeds of up to 15 km/h on pre-defined routes. This AED6 million (US$1.6 million) project starts with Level 3 autonomy, which involves limited human oversight. dnata revealed plans to upgrade to Level 4 autonomy by early 2026, enabling full self-driving capabilities in controlled environments. As operations evolve, staff who previously drove baggage tractors will be reassigned to higher-value tasks. This is expected to support faster aircraft turnarounds and reduce the risk of human error on the ramp. The deployment follows over a year of collaboration between dnata, TractEasy, Dubai Airports, and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The group has worked on creating a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle operations in airside environments. Vehicles will operate daily, improving efficiency and safety. The project also serves as a testbed for wider rollout models. dnata aims to refine autonomous ground handling approaches as DWC prepares to expand into the world's largest airport, with a planned capacity of 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. Jaffar Dawood, Divisional Senior Vice President for UAE Airport Operations at dnata, stated that this move brings autonomous technology into daily airport operations. He emphasized the role of automation in building smarter, safer, and more resilient infrastructure. Rich Reno, CEO of TractEasy, added that the collaboration with dnata marks a significant step forward in safe and efficient autonomous adoption in the aviation sector.
Gulf Insider
15-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Dubai Airport Trials Self-Driving Baggage Tractors – Here Is How They Work
Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport is now using self-driving electric tractors to move baggage. Aviation services company dnata has launched a fleet of six autonomous vehicles at the airport, representing an investment of Dh6 million, it said on Tuesday. The tractors, which can tow up to four baggage containers at a time, will initially operate with minimal human oversight, with plans to transition to full self-driving capability by early 2026. dnata said it now operates six electric tractors – the EZTow model, developed by TractEasy – at DWC. dnata stated that the move will enhance efficiency and safety, enabling staff to be reassigned to more complex tasks. The deployment is part of a push towards automation as Dubai World Central expands to become the world's largest airport. Trials of similar technology are underway in over 15 countries, but dnata claims this launch marks a significant step in bringing autonomous vehicles into regular airport operations. Traditionally, baggage is transported between the terminal and aircraft by human drivers, each operating under tight time constraints. The new autonomous vehicles streamline this process by towing up to four baggage containers (ULDs) at a time at speeds of up to 15 km/h, following pre-defined routes. Beyond its day-to-day role, dnata stated that it would utilise this deployment as a testbed to trial and refine various operating models for autonomous ground handling. The aim is to identify the most effective approach for wider rollout, especially as DWC expands into what is set to become the world's largest airport, with capacity for up to 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. The insights gained will help shape how automation is built into the core of future airport operations at DWC, it said. 'This is an important step forward for both dnata and the wider aviation industry,' said Jaffar Dawood, Divisional Senior Vice President for UAE Airport Operations at dnata. 'While autonomous vehicles have largely been limited to trials, this deployment brings the technology into regular, day-to-day operations. As global travel continues to rebound and operational demands increase, automation could be key to building smarter, safer and more resilient infrastructure,' he said. Autonomous ground support equipment (GSE) has become a key focus area for innovation in recent years. According to the IATA, such trials are currently underway in more than 15 countries, although most remain in early testing phases or are restricted to small-scale pilots. 'Autonomous GSE adoption is taking off,' said Rich Reno, TractEasy's CEO.
