Airport CEO Clears the Air on Dubai Aviation

Dubai, UAE – October 13, 2010 – Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths today issued a statement in response to the recent comments and media coverage emanating from France and Canada that inaccurately imply government subsidisation and preferential treatment of local carrier Emirates Airline.

“The only thing Dubai is guilty of is providing an environment that actually supports aviation. Most governments around the world treat aviation as a pariah, choking its growth with costly, misdirected regulation, instead of adopting policies that recognise its considerable socio-economic benefits and support its sustainable growth. They then compound the problem with parasitic forms of taxation that usually flow straight out of the sector,” said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths.

“In Dubai, aviation is embraced as a strategic imperative. Another key to its success has been equal treatment of airlines. Dubai Airports and Dubai Air Navigation Services offer the same competitive rates and charges to all airlines.

That, combined with the UAE’s open skies policy and the attractiveness of Dubai as a business and leisure destination, is why we have 130 airlines operating into one of the fastest growing airports in the world.”

For more information on Dubai’s approach to aviation, click here to view Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths’ speech to the UK Aviation Club in June 2010.