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Dubai airport soars in rankings of world’s busiest

By WTOP Staff

ADAM SCHRECK
Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Now that he’s had a taste of running the world’s busiest air hub for international passengers, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths is determined to hang on to the honor while setting his sights on an even bigger prize: beating Atlanta for the title of busiest airport on the planet.

Dubai International Airport has been creeping up the aviation traffic rankings for years, fueled largely by the rapid expansion of hometown champion Emirates and its younger sibling, low-cost carrier FlyDubai. Both airlines and the airport are owned by the emirate’s government.

The most recent figures compiled by Airports Council International, covering the past 12 months through March 2014, show that Dubai — at least for now — has Heathrow beat for the crown of most international passenger traffic. It ended 2013 in second place behind the European hub.

Griffiths isn’t shy about calling his facility, which handled 66.4 million passengers last year, the world’s largest international airport. But the 56-year-old Briton was quick to hedge that claim during a recent interview with The Associated Press, saying he wants a bit more data — and to get through a major runway overhaul that’s reduced flight numbers — to “proclaim that quite loudly.”

“Once we’ve got through summer 2014 we’ll have a look at the numbers and see if we can accurately claim that title, hopefully forever,” he said.

The airport Griffiths oversees, with its mall-like duty free halls, tranquil Zen gardens and luxury car raffles, still has room to grow before it can boast being the world’s busiest airport when all flights — foreign and domestic — are taken into account.

Griffiths thinks it’s just a matter of time — likely before the decade is out.

His airport ended last year at No. 7, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the top spot. But it’s growing much faster than the competition. Dubai is the only airport in the top 10 posting double-digit percentage point gains.

Griffiths joined Dubai Airports in 2007 after a stint as managing director at London’s Gatwick, Britain’s second-biggest airport. He is a self-described “petrol-head” with a love for anything that moves and an avid organist — a passion that helps inform his job and its many moving parts.

“Running a multi-faceted organization like an airport … is very much like being part of an orchestra or playing the organ,” he said. “You’ve got a lot of different strands that are moving independently of each other that you have to bring them in line so that they make perfect harmony together.”

Below his office, not far from where arriving passengers wait to get their passports stamped, construction workers are noisily working to expand Dubai International once again.

A new concourse that will be connected to an existing terminal by automated train is due to open in the first three months of next year. It promises an eclectic mix of local and international restaurants ranging from Krispy Kreme up to an eatery boasting dishes by Wolfgang Puck.

It is part of a broader $7.8 billion expansion effort meant to boost the airport’s capacity to 90 million passengers annually by 2018. Atlanta handled 94.4 million last year.

Construction crews also are racing through the steamy summer months to complete the runway project, which involves resurfacing one strip while adding taxiways, exits and improved lighting to the other. That project, due to finish later in July, forced Griffiths’ team to cut just over a quarter of flights during the 80-day project.

Many of them shifted operations to Dubai’s newest airport, Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, which promises to be far bigger than Dubai International with an eventual capacity of 160 million passengers. It opened for cargo flights in 2010 and received its first passengers in October.

Emirates’ breakneck growth is the engine driving Dubai International’s expansion, Griffiths said. The carrier is the Mideast’s biggest airline and the world’s largest user of both the Boeing 777 and the double-decker Airbus A380 long-range jets.

Much more work still needs to be done on the new airport before Emirates can move all its operations there sometime next decade.

To keep up with the increased traffic at Dubai International, officials are searching for places to park additional aircraft, working on improving passenger flow through the airport and looking for ways to manage the airspace more efficiently.

Griffiths said his main obsession for now is making sure that the gap between running out of space at the old airport — he expects it will see 103 million passengers by 2020 — and building up enough of the new one is as small as possible.

“It is a very significant undertaking to be operating the world’s largest international airport whilst you’re building from scratch what will then become the world’s largest international airport within the same city,” he said. “That’s the sort of opportunity that comes less than once in a lifetime.”

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Online:

Dubai International Airport: www.dubaiairport.com

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Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adamschreck.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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