<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile — Gulf state recruits Airbus for plan to become regional aerospace hub

Gulf state recruits Airbus for plan to become regional aerospace hub

Thursday, May 8, 2008 Free Headline Alerts

ABU DHABI — Europe's Airbus is bullish on air traffic growth the in Persia Gulf region in coming decades and has opened a logistics center in the United Arab Emirates.

The Airbus Material and Logistics Center in the Middle East was opened at the UAE's Dubai Airport Free Zone on April 29. Executives said the center would improve regional services as well as contribute to the UAE's plans to become a regional aerospace hub.

"With predicted passenger traffic growth of over six per cent and cargo of five per cent in the next 20 years, the Middle East will undergo one of the biggest aviation growth rates of anywhere in the world, so a world class logistics center in the region is essential," Airbus president Tom Enders said.

Executives said the logistics center would reduce the time and cost in transporting spare parts for Airbus. They said the choice of Dubai reflected its modern and rapidly-growing airports, serving more than 120 airlines flying to more than 205 destinations worldwide.

The center, located next to Dubai International Airport, covers more than 3,700 square meters of storage space and office facilities. Executives said the 24-hour-per-day facility, containing an avionics and electronic repair station, would stock more than 5,000 different parts with around 43,000 items at any one time.

The Dubai-owned Emirates airlines has ordered 58 A380 aircraft. In November 2007, Emirates, the Middle East's largest carrier, also ordered 70 Airbus A350s.

"You know who are the customers in the Middle East," Enders said.

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