Smaller aircraft capable of flying longer distances could reshape connections between Europe’s regional airports and global hubs, according to Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths. Speaking at the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in Malta, Griffiths said improving narrow-body jet technology may allow more direct services from secondary European cities to Dubai and beyond.
The comments come as Dubai expands Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central. The project is intended to create one of the world’s largest aviation hubs, while airlines and airports face growing pressure to improve efficiency, reduce disruption and address aviation’s environmental impact.
Why narrow-body aircraft could change European connections
Griffiths said newer narrow-body aircraft are increasingly capable of operating longer routes that previously required wide-body planes. Because smaller aircraft need fewer passengers to operate a commercially viable service, they could make direct international flights possible from airports that currently depend on connections through major hubs.
He pointed to potential links between Dubai and cities such as Exeter, Valencia, Lyon, Marseille and Baden-Baden. These examples illustrate how regional airports could gain greater access to long-haul markets if airlines can operate routes profitably with smaller aircraft.
For travellers, the potential benefits include:
- More direct routes from regional airports
- Fewer transfers through major international hubs
- Greater choice for business and leisure travel
- New opportunities for airports outside Europe’s largest capitals
However, Griffiths also stressed that regional airports would need effective surface transport links. Rail, road and public transport connections will be important if airports are to handle increased passenger numbers without creating additional congestion for surrounding communities.
Dubai’s airport expansion plans
Dubai Airports announced plans in 2024 to expand Al Maktoum International Airport into a major global aviation centre. Once complete, the airport is planned to have 400 terminal gates and five runways, with annual capacity of up to 260 million passengers. The expansion is expected to be completed by 2032.
Griffiths said the enlarged airport is intended to support direct connections to more than 600 cities. A larger network of routes from regional European airports could strengthen Dubai’s role as a connecting point for travel between Europe, Asia, Africa and other international markets.
The proposal reflects a broader shift in aviation strategy. Instead of concentrating all long-distance services in a small number of major airports, airlines may increasingly use smaller aircraft to connect passengers directly with secondary cities.
Sustainability remains a major challenge
Airport expansion also raises questions about emissions, noise and the wider environmental impact of aviation. Griffiths identified sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, as a central part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions from flying.
He argued that the private sector needs stronger incentives to invest in SAF production, while governments may need to require airlines to blend increasing amounts of sustainable fuel with conventional aviation fuel. He referred to Singapore’s use of a green fuel tax as an approach that could provide a model for other destinations.
SAF can be produced from sources including waste materials and other alternative feedstocks, although availability, cost and production capacity remain significant challenges. Increasing its use would require action from fuel producers, airlines, airports and governments rather than relying on any single part of the aviation industry.
Griffiths also called for airport expansion to be balanced with effective environmental controls and consideration for communities living near airports. Better infrastructure, planning and emissions management will be important if regional growth is to gain public support.
Facial recognition and the airport experience
The Dubai Airports chief also discussed how technology could change border and security procedures. He said passports might no longer be needed for some airport processes within the next five years, although the comments describe a possible future direction rather than a confirmed change to international travel rules.
Facial recognition is expected to play a central role in the planned passenger experience at Al Maktoum International Airport. The aim would be to allow travellers to move through border controls and boarding procedures without repeatedly presenting a passport or boarding pass.
Artificial intelligence could also support baggage screening and processing. Griffiths said the objective is to make security faster and less intrusive while preserving required checks.
Any such system would require careful attention to privacy, data protection, cybersecurity and legal safeguards. International passengers are currently subject to different identity, immigration and security requirements, meaning that technological changes at one airport would not automatically remove passport obligations elsewhere.
What the changes could mean for Europe
The expansion of long-range narrow-body aircraft could benefit European regional economies if new routes attract visitors, support trade and improve access to international markets. Smaller airports may also become more strategically important to airlines seeking additional destinations beyond established hubs.
The impact will depend on several factors:
- Whether airlines can operate the routes profitably
- Passenger demand in each regional market
- Airport capacity and surface transport links
- Noise and environmental regulations
- The availability and cost of sustainable aviation fuel
- Border, privacy and aviation-security requirements
For European travellers, the prospect of direct services is significant but not guaranteed. Griffiths’s remarks describe opportunities created by aircraft technology and airport investment; individual routes would still depend on decisions by airlines, regulators and airport operators.
What happens next?
Dubai’s airport expansion is expected to continue towards its planned 2032 completion date. As the project develops, airlines will assess which routes can be supported by the new capacity and by the capabilities of next-generation aircraft.
At the same time, governments and aviation companies will need to address how airport growth can be reconciled with climate targets, local environmental concerns and passenger privacy. The future of European air travel may involve more direct regional connections, but the success of that model will depend as much on infrastructure and sustainable fuel policy as on aircraft design.
The central takeaway is that longer-range narrow-body jets could give regional European airports a larger role in global travel, while Dubai’s expansion offers a potential platform for those connections. Turning that possibility into reality will require commercially viable routes, reliable transport links and credible environmental safeguards.
