The executive flight services of Dubai international airport increased by 15 percent during the past two months, officials said.
Mohammed Ahli, director of operations at the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) attributed the major leap in the exclusive flights to the Sept. 11 attacks on the US.
The executive flight movements had shown an increase despite a five percent drop in transit passengers at Dubai Airport since Sept. 11, he noted.
Similarly, freight movements had declined by 15 percent and mail by 25 percent, due to the higher cargo cooling security requirements. "We still hope to touch our target of the 14 million passenger throughput forecast at the end of 2001 despite everything," he said.
A total of 1,900 executive flights were made through the Dubai International Airport last year, said the dailies.
Ahli expected the average of the current year to reach about 200 flights per month.
On Saturday, the DCA launched its new executive flight service brochure to meet the “demand” of the passengers.
According to Ahli, the DCA deals with 20 companies engaged in this service and this number is expected to rise to 25 after the Dubai Airshow 2001. The DCA deals with around 500 operators.
On the regular passengers’ movement, Ahli said the DCA expected this figure to reach 14 million by year-end and is still confident it can make it despite earlier cancellations of flights by some airlines.
Dubai is gaining a higher profile as a leading business and leisure destination, giving it the capacity to attract more clients on exclusive flights like politicians, diplomats, sports, entertainment and fashion celebrities, the rich and affluent, and royalty – Albawaba.com
