Heathrow concedes defeat to thriving Dubai airport

An official at London’s bustling Heathrow airport, known to be the world’s busiest international airport, has admitted defeat in competing with the ever-booming Dubai airfield, the UAE-based 7DAYS newspaper reported on Thursday.

Simon Baugh, director of media and public relations at BAA Heathrow, said the London airport needs to focus more on being Europe’s most-used airfield, let alone the world’s. Baugh said the country’s main competition is Paris and Amsterdam, but added Heathrow airport “can’t compare” to Dubai.

While the British airport recorded 69.5 million passengers in contrast to Dubai International Airport’s 50 million last year, airport senior officials in the emirate anticipate it to trump that record by 2016.

Meanwhile, the British Airports Authority says capacity limitations at Heathrow could cost the national economy $1.9 billion a year in lost trade.

At present, Britain’s coalition government is against the idea of building a third runway to potentially boost Heathrow’s capacity, despite recent reports suggesting Prime Minister David Cameron would be considering an expansion.

Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport will inaugurate Concourse 3, the world’s first terminal dedicated entirely to double-decker Airbus A380 aircrafts.

Dubai predicts it will welcome 90 million passengers a year by 2020, also expecting Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali, a port town in Dubai, to be the world’s largest passenger and cargo hub.