The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the third in the world in international air traffic, according to the Secretary-General of the Arab Air Transport Association, Abdel Wahab Tuffaha.
During the meetings of the Arab Air Transport Association hosted by Etihad Airways, Tuffaha said that the UAE ranks the third largest country in the world in international air traffic and air transport activity after the United States and China, capturing 8% of the total traffic.
Tuffaha noted that the UAE has succeeded in making the air transport sector one of the main sectors that contributed to economic growth. Tuffaha also noted that Emirates plays a pivotal role in the sector worldwide. He said that the air transport sector in the UAE contributed over 12% to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, noting that the percentage was the highest in the world and was more than double its global average.
He explained that the Covid-19 pandemic affected the air transport sector. He explained that "global rates are still lower in terms of the number of passengers by 17.6% compared to 2019 (before the Covid-19 pandemic), and they are less by 8% in the number of jobs, and by 7% in revenue, as well as lower by 40% in the number of tourists."
He also explained that the aviation sector is currently facing problems due to jet fuel prices, which are currently 50 percent higher than oil prices.
Tuffaha set three priorities, which can help the aviation sector. He said that the speed of digital transformation and the adoption of digital identity, including the International Health Certificate in a digital form, could help to ensure the smoothness of movement. He added that the second priority is to take lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the loss of millions of jobs. He also asked to focus on climate change in order to reach Zero carbon emissions by 2050. According to him, investment is required in technology development and sustainable fuels from governments.
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