Dubai World Central takes off as passenger airport

Dubai World Central (DWC) - targeted to be the biggest airport in the world - is now up and running.
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The arrival of the first passenger aircraft – an A320 operated by Hungarian low cost carrier(LCC) Wizz Air – from Budapest this morning, opening the doors to what will eventually be an airport with the potential to serve a quarter of a million passengers each year.

The first full-service airline to utilise DWC will be the Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air which will commence services to the Jebel Ali airfield in December.
The first Middle Eastern airline to make DWC its home will be Kuwait’s LCC, Jazeera Airways.
The passenger terminal building was shown to the world last December when it was the home to the MEBA (business aviation) show.
The new facility has capacity for up to 7 million passengers per year and is serviced by one A380 capable runway, 64 remote aircraft stands and food and beverage facilities.
It will eventually have five runways.
Industry analyst Saj Ahmed said: "The opening of Al-Maktoum International Airport to passenger operations marks the start of a seven year program to get the airport fully opened to realise its capacity increase that it will deliver to Dubai and the wider UAE.
“With the current airport already on track to exceed passenger traffic for 2013, the new airport, while catering for just 7m new passengers at first, will enable airlines to take advantage of the extra capacity, especially while runway repair work is carried out at the existing airport if they should so choose to move flights there temporarily.
“Al-Maktoum International's eventual capacity of 160m, with the possibility of it being raised to 250m passengers, only serves to highlight the huge capital investment being made to support aviation growth.
“While it is not yet clear that either Emirates or flydubai will move from their current downtown location to the new airport or even split operations, what it does show is that these two Dubai-based airlines have been instrumental in pulling in traffic to Dubai.
“And with Emirates poised to launch the 777X in a few weeks at the Dubai Air Show, these new jets will arrive just in time to augment its continued and relentless expansion."
The chairman of Dubai Emirates and president of Dubai’s civil aviation authority Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, welcomed the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to formally open the passenger terminal ahead of the first arrival.
“Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central will play a vital role in the future development of Dubai as a centre for trade, commerce, transport and logistics and tourism. I am impressed by the efficiency and convenience of this new terminal,” Sheikh Ahmed said.
During the event, Sheikh Mohammed welcomed Gulf Air’s Acting CEO, Maher Salman Al Musallam to Al Maktoum International and congratulated the airline on becoming the first full service carrier to commence its operations to the new airport. The ruler also touched upon the longstanding relationship between Bahrain’s national carrier and the Emirate, dating back to 1960 when Gulf Air first started its operations to Dubai International Airport. 
With the closure of one runway at Dubai International during 2014, there will be a concerted effort by Dubai Airports to encourage other carriers to convert to the new airport.
 “The location, convenience and compact nature of DWC are compelling attributes,” said Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports.
“Airline and customer interest in this airport continues to grow and we hope to announce additional services in the near future,” he said.

PICTURED: Gulf Air’s acting CEO,  Maher Salman Al Musallam with Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths and Marwan Boodai, Chairman of Jazeera Airways at the opening ceremony of  Dubai World Central (DWC).

 

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