Dubai overtakes Heathrow as top international airport

AFP ^ | January 27, 2015 | Ali Khalil

[C19fan]

Dubai airport has soared ahead of London's Heathrow, riding a boom in long-haul flights between Asia and the West to become the world's top international travel hub, it said Tuesday.

Traffic at the airport increased 6.1 percent last year to 70.47 million passengers, Dubai Airports said, adding that it expected a further surge in traveller numbers in 2015.

Dubai International is home to Emirates, the Middle East's largest carrier, which along with Abu Dhabi's Etihad and Qatar Airways has seized a significant portion of travel between the West, Asia and Australasia.

[C19fan]

Can't see how Heathrow can grow anymore with the constraints of geography and the political situation.

[b4its2late]

I believe that also means that the United Nations headquarters MUST relocate there permanently. That’s my executive order!

[thefactor]

I had a layover at Heathrow on my way from NYC to Dublin. It was probably one of the top ten worst experiences of my life. And I’ve done some weird stuff.

[SMARTY]

Just think of all the money Dubai DOESN’T have to spend on anti-terrorist security!!

[moose07]

Only a tactical nuke could improve Heathrow.
They have made getting out (escaping) faster in resent years.

[Drango]

Been awhile since I’ve been to Dubai, but they always had an ultra high end car raffle. For $5 you could win a Lamborghini, Bentley or what not. Good times.

[katana]

Top is not the same as best. Personally, I’d rank Dubai a couple spots behind Singapore Changi, Hong Kong International, and Seoul Incheon Airports. Heathrow would be WAY down the list. Dubai is the hub between Europe and Asia, and the city itself is as open and accommodating as the Middle East allows, so it gets the traffic. Twenty years ago the main thing it rode on was the ridiculously low liquor prices in its duty free. Those are now a faded memory.

[SamAdams76]

I like getting stuck at airports. It's sort of an adventure. I like to check out all those airport restaurants, especially those with the bars, where you can get a cold draft and a greasy cheeseburger with bacon and fries. I get caught up on my reading. I try to hook up my laptop to the airport wi-fi without paying for it (it can be done if you are persistent enough).

Everything is so expensive there! But they can command these high prices because they have a captive audience. Where you going to go!

One night at Newark Airport, I laid down on the hard floor by the Jet Blue gates and fell asleep for about three hours. I was using my jacket as a pillow. I almost missed my re-scheduled flight which would have kept me there longer.

I also love seeing the panic in people's eyes when a flight they are ready to board is suddenly delayed or cancelled due to "equipment" or "inclement weather". They run all over the airport trying to book a flight.

Me, I just calmly stroll to the nearest bar and use my smartphone to get hooked up on another flight, while sipping a Sam Adams lager.

Sometimes I'll go to the newstand/gift shop and get a book to read.

Out in Las Vegas, they got slot machines! Now they say those slot machines are tight. But one night, when my flight to the East Coast got delayed (because of snow!), I ended up putting about $500 into those machine and ended up winning a $1,100 jackpot. So I'm ahead by $600 which is better than how I did in all five days of regular Vegas. But it took nearly 45 minutes for somebody to come over and pay me and I almost missed my re-scheduled flight.

Over at Logan Airport in Boston, in Terminal C, they have this contraption where balls move around in a maze. I can watch that for hours and hours. Simply mesmerizing.

Anyway, getting stranded at airports can be an adventure. Make it fun!

[Republic_Venom]

You are not joking about that. Dubai pays AQ, and others like them - the deal is...here is the money, you say the heck away from the UAE. Don’t bring your nonsense here. Let us do our thing, you do yours.

[Gay State Conservative]

I've done Heathrow and Dubai a number of times....I prefer Dubai hands down.But it's huge which isn't fun with a bad hip.