The Middle East's growing aviation industry is facing a major environmental hurdle as massive airport development continues to spiral around the region.

Research shows that 18 per cent of fuel is wasted each year through airport infrastructure and operational inefficiencies, amounting to 120 million tonnes of carbon dioxide worldwide.

This comes at a time when the Middle East and North Africa region will have the largest aviation growth in the world between this year and 2011, with almost 40 per cent more growth than the global average, according to recent research by the International Air Transport Association.

Leaders in the aviation field will converge at the inaugural Future Airports conference at the Airport Show from June 2 to 4 at Airport Expo Dubai, to discuss the environmental issues surrounding major airport expansion and other key topics related to future airports.

'Aviation growth brings numerous economical advantages to the region, along with goods and tourism, however, airports and aircraft are major contributors to carbon emissions, and it is important to start a dialogue about any environmental implications versus economical development', said organiser Stream Line Marketing Group director Nick Webb.

'The amount of fuel being wasted every year is startling and a major concern to both the aviation industry and its customers.'

The Future Airports conference will run for the first two days of the Airport Show. The conference will open with a panel discussion to present environmental options for future airports.

The conference will also cover topical and pertinent issues within the aviation industry such as airspace management, security and safety as well as airport infrastructure and operations, featuring high calibre speakers from aviation and government organisations.-TradeArabia News Service