Al Maktoum Airport plans Mar-2011 launch for passenger services

Dubai World Central Vice-President Cargo and Logistics, Andrew Walsh, stated Al Maktoum International Airport will commence passenger operations in Mar-2011 (arabianbusiness, 03-Jun-2010). The airport, scheduled to open for cargo operations on 27-Jun-2010, is planned to be the world's largest airport once completed. The five-runway airport will eventually handle 160 million passengers p/a, an increase from the previously projected 120 million, as well as 12 million tonnes of cargo.

Dubai World Central: "It's an all-bus operation, and there are no jet bridges. It's a facility that's about twice the size of Terminal 2 and can handle five to seven million passengers. So the 'right fit' would be to get a number of regional operators - as well as potentially a couple of long-haul operators - because clearly one of the aspects they want is a hub carrier in place so they can exchange feed ... We've had a very clear direction from His Highness [Sheikh Ahmed, chairman of Dubai Airports] that we won't force anyone to move. So at the end of the day, it's going to be the carriers' choice to be there," Andrew Walsh, VP Cargo and Logistics. Source: Arabianbusiness, 03-Jun-2010.

Dubai World Central: "The planning date is spring of 2011 - so we're looking at the end of March for the start of passenger flights ... Right now, the passenger terminal in the final stages of fit-out. Once we've got the cargo terminal open and the operations are settled, we'll move into the operational readiness process for the passenger terminal through the later part of this year and the early part of next year," Andrew Walsh, VP Cargo and Logistics. Source: ArabianBusiness, 03-Jun-2010.