Dubai airport CEO offers to help Trump, US improve hubs

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Dubai airport CEO offers to help Trump, US improve hubs
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths poses for a photo at the Dubai Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017.

Dubai - The CEO added that the Dubai airport would welcome any discussions with US officials about how to improve their airports.

By AP

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Published: Tue 24 Jan 2017, 1:28 PM

Last updated: Wed 25 Jan 2017, 12:10 AM

Dubai International Airport would welcome a call from the Trump administration on ways to improve American airports, the CEO of the Mideast hub said on Tuesday as it retained the title of the world's busiest for international travel.
Paul Griffiths said the Dubai airport, the home of long-haul carrier Emirates and often lauded by US President Donald Trump during his campaign, saw 83.6 million passengers in 2016.
The figure fell short of Griffiths' earlier estimates of 85 million passengers for 2016 - something he blamed on the economic, political and terror-related turmoil of the past year. 
"We know that the global economy has slowed a little bit and the propensity for travel has dropped, but I think that 2016 was quite an unparalleled year," Griffiths told The Associated Press. "Fortunately, our numbers are still holding up."
Dubai International Airport first surpassed London Heathrow as the world's busiest airport for international traffic in 2014. It has maintained the title ever since, with more than 90 airlines flying into skyscraper-studded Dubai, a gateway for East-West travel.
That rapid growth has angered US carriers, which allege Emirates, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad and Qatar Airways receive unfair government subsidies. The three Gulf airlines repeatedly have denied the allegations.
Asked about Trump's protectionist stance, Griffiths said it would hurt consumers the worst.
"The result of that is reduced choice for the consumer and higher prices," he said.
He added that the Dubai airport would welcome any discussions with US officials about how to improve their airports.
"If America and President Trump would like some of the expertise from Dubai, I'm sure we'd be pleased to assist." Griffiths said.
Watch: Dubai airport incredible compared to US, says Trump in debate
In one of the US presidential debates in September 2016 with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump had lauded Dubai and Qatar airports while comparing them to a few US airports with "third world" amenities.
"When we have $20 trillion in debt, and our country's a mess, you know, it's one thing to have $20 trillion in debt and our roads are good and our bridges are good and everything's in great shape, our airports. Our airports are like from a third world country," the Republican said.
"You land at LaGuardia, you land at Kennedy, you land at LAX, you land at Newark, and you come in from Dubai and Qatar and you see these incredible - you come in from China, you see these incredible airports, and you land - we've become a third world country. So the worst of all things has happened."
Many netizens echoed his statement. A Twitter user said, "The only thing Trump said right is when he praised Dubai Airport."
Another person tweeted, "If Trump loves Dubai, he should fly and stay there."
Meanwhile there were others who who slammed Trump for criticizing US airports. "Trump is blaming US politicians for Dubai airport being better than Kennedy airport?" a user tweeted.
Another tweet stated, "So what's upsetting Trump is that the US airports are not so fancy like DUBAI airport?"

nilanjana@khaleejtimes.com


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