Al Maktoum International Airport confirms opening for cargo from 27-Jun-2010

Dubai Airports confirmed plans to commence cargo operations at the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA) from 27-Jun-2010 (Emirates Business 24/7, 08-Mar-2010). Phase I will open with a single runway, with capacity to handle 5 million passengers and 250,000 tonnnes of cargo p/a. Capacity at AMIA will increase to 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo p/a with the completion of Phase II, with five runways, projected for 2012. Dubai Airports forecasts passenger traffic to increase 13.6% year-on-year in 2010. CEO, Paul Griffiths, stated a number of airlines have expressed interest in operating to the airport and it hopes to make some announcements "fairly shortly".

Dubai Airports: "The airport would be opening for freight operations initially and passenger operations will at some stage in the future...we are on track so far for the 27-Jun-2010 opening. We are expecting a gradual build-up for DWC because obviously, the main point at DWC is to actually work towards Phase II...The freighter operation clearly will give us a good test of the operational facilities and the runway and the control tower and air traffic control. We are not actually committing this point in time to a definite date for passenger operations," Paul Griffiths, CEO. Source: Emirates Business 24/7, 08-Mar-2010.