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Executive Interview 

Executive Interview with Fyodor Konstantinov Chief Technology Officer, Aeronova (New generation Airships)

4 November 2025

Peter Hopwood

Presenter, Storytelling and Speaker Coach

Sponsored by

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Source: Dubai Airports

Q: Tell us a bit about the company. Why airships?

The company AERONOVA was founded by world-class lighter-than-air specialists. The core of the company consists of PhD and Doctor of Science holders whose track record stands out across the history of lighter-than-air flight.

Today, we are reinventing the very approach to creating lighter-than-air technology — building a fully integrated design-to-production cycle for airships within a single center of excellence. We have established a design bureau and a pilot production facility capable of — and already — turning out several units per month. We have mastered the core technological process — the production of non-rigid airship envelopes. And our proprietary hardware-software platform has made airships modern players in the unmanned aviation market.

What makes modern airships unique is that they do not compete with airplanes, ships, or helicopters. They open entirely new niches and tackle tasks that were previously considered impossible. They turn ""impossible"" into economically feasible.

Q: In which areas and regions do you see a need for the use of your airships?

The potential of lighter-than-air technology is enormous, but it makes sense to focus on segments where airships have a genuine competitive advantage:
- Project logistics — especially in the Arctic, Siberia, Africa, and island nations where developed infrastructure is lacking and traditional delivery methods are costly and inefficient.
- Survey and monitoring — for oil and gas companies, forestry, research centers, the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), and security and law enforcement agencies that require long-duration ""station-keeping"" with real-time data transmission.
- Advertising and branding — major brands are increasingly seeking unconventional ways to reach audiences; an airship can be equipped with LED panels, projectors, and even sound systems, turning it into a flying media center.
- Tourism — in regions with unique natural landscapes (the Alps, the deserts of the UAE, the tropics of Southeast Asia), where an airship flight becomes a memorable experience.

Q: Which technologies, in your opinion, will have the greatest impact on the aerospace industry over the next five years?

I believe the key areas of development in the industry will be unmanned systems in combination with artificial intelligence, and hybrid propulsion systems. Unmanned technologies have long since moved beyond entertainment and are now becoming critical components across various sectors of the economy. They open up opportunities for tasks that were previously impossible or uneconomical, and their development is fueled by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and new materials.

Hybrid propulsion systems can address one of the aerospace industry's main challenges — high emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Many experts agree that in the coming years we will see hybrid solutions dominate, providing the necessary balance between environmental performance, range, and economic viability.

Q: What are your expectations for Dubai Airshow 2025, and what can attendees expect to see from your company at the airshow?

Dubai Airshow 2025 is the ideal platform to demonstrate the operational maturity of our project. We would like to show the world that the airship industry opens up new prospects and horizons that can reshape the world as we know it. And of course, we expect to establish business relationships with both investors and customers who are interested in innovative solutions for their businesses.

Among the highlights at our stand, visitors will be able to see:
- A ""remote pilot"" zone, where visitors can try their hand at being real airship pilots: thanks to our developments, control is possible from anywhere in the world.
- A remote airship control station, where visitors can plan and program a flight path in real time.

 

 “DXB’s continued growth through a period of regional challenges highlights the strength of Dubai and the UAE, the agility of our operations, and the commitment of our airport community. The oneDXB mindset once again enabled us to manage disruption while elevating the guest experience and ensuring seamless global connectivity.

As we enter the second half of the year, travel activity is expected to accelerate, beginning with the late-summer peak and leading into a winter season filled with high-profile events across entertainment, sport, and business. A standout moment will be the Dubai Airshow 2025, which is set to surpass previous records and showcase the bold vision shaping the future of aviation and aerospace. Based on our performance to date and a positive outlook, we expect the annual traffic to reach 96 million this year, bringing us closer to the symbolic 100 million milestone.”

 Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports

Performance and Efficiency

Average monthly traffic in H1 stood at approximately 7.7 million, with daily volumes averaging 254,000. January was the busiest month of the period and also set a new monthly record, with 8.5 million guests.

DXB handled 222,000 total flights during the first half of the year, while the load factor reached 76%. A total of 41.8 million bags were processed, with 91% delivered within 45 minutes on arrival. The mishandled baggage rate remained low at just 2 bags per 1,000 guests, significantly outperforming the 2024 industry average of 6.3 reported by SITA. The airport is on track to process over 85 million bags by year-end, surpassing its previous record of 81.2 million set in 2024. The busiest baggage days were between January 3-5, with daily volumes reaching 300,000 bags.

Efficiency at key guest touchpoints also remained consistently high. In the first half, 99.2% of guests cleared departure passport control in under 10 minutes, 98.4% cleared arrivals in under 15 minutes, and 98.7% passed through security checks in under 5 minutes. 

“The initiative aims to integrate local suppliers into the global supply chains of Thales and other leading defence and technology companies by equipping them to meet top international standards and enabling access to long-term, high-value projects both locally and globally”

 Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Cheif of Defense and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council 

Top Markets and Destinations

India remained DXB’s largest country market in H1 with 5.9 million guests, followed by Saudi Arabia with 3.6 million, the United Kingdom with 3.0 million, Pakistan with 2.1 million, and the United States with 1.6 million guests. London was the busiest city destination with 1.8 million guests, followed by Riyadh with 1.5 million, Mumbai with 1.2 million, Jeddah and New Delhi with 1.1 million each, and Istanbul with 982,000 guests.

Cargo and Connectivity

DXB handled just over 1 million tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2025, reflecting a marginal increase of 0.1% compared to the previous year. The airport remains a key contributor to global trade and logistics. 
Currently, DXB is connected to more than 269 destinations in over 107 countries, served by a network of over 92 international carriers. This breadth of connectivity continues to underpin Dubai’s appeal as a hub for tourism, commerce, investment, and long-term growth.

Outlook

With the second half underway, Dubai is preparing for a surge in global travel and events, with DXB playing a central role. From the late-summer travel rush related to reopening of schools, to a packed winter calendar, activity is set to intensify. The upcoming Dubai Airshow 2025 is expected to be a landmark event, reflecting not only the scale of aviation in the region but also the vision shaping its future.

 

Space is no longer a side conversation – it is a central pillar of aerospace progress. The Dubai Airshow is evolving to reflect that, with our 2025 edition set to feature the region’s largest space presence to date. Through close collaboration with leading stakeholders, we are creating a platform where government, industry and innovators can come together to accelerate investment, partnerships and talent development in the global space sector.

— Tim Hawes, Managing Director of Informa Markets

Dubai Airshow 2025 will take place from 17 to 21 November at Dubai World Central (DWC). Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the event is supported by Dubai Airports, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Defence, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects and the UAE Space Agency.

As one of the world’s most influential aerospace events, Dubai Airshow continues to connect global stakeholders across aviation, space and defence, driving progress through innovation, collaboration and future-focused leadership.

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Eget quis mi enim, leo lacinia pharetra, semper. Eget in volutpat mollis at volutpat lectus velit, sed auctor. Porttitor fames arcu quis fusce augue enim. Quis at habitant diam at. Suscipit tristique risus, at donec. In turpis vel et quam imperdiet. Ipsum molestie aliquet sodales id est ac volutpat. 


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Mi tincidunt elit, id quisque ligula ac diam, amet. Vel etiam suspendisse morbi eleifend faucibus eget vestibulum felis. Dictum quis montes, sit sit. Tellus aliquam enim urna, etiam. Mauris posuere vulputate arcu amet, vitae nisi, tellus tincidunt. At feugiat sapien varius id.

Eget quis mi enim, leo lacinia pharetra, semper. Eget in volutpat mollis at volutpat lectus velit, sed auctor. Porttitor fames arcu quis fusce augue enim. Quis at habitant diam at. Suscipit tristique risus, at donec. In turpis vel et quam imperdiet. Ipsum molestie aliquet sodales id est ac volutpat. 

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