Dubai International Airport to surpass Heathrow by 2020

UAE's Dubai International Airport is expected to surpass London Heathrow International Airport as the world's third busiest international airport by 2020, with Heathrow expecting to handle 90 million passengers p/a and Dubai International expecting to handle 98 million passengers p/a by 2020 (Khaleej Times, 22-May-2012). BAA Airports director of media relations Simon Baugh stated, "Dubai International, unfortunately, will probably overtake us as the third busiest international airport at some point of time in this decade." Mr Baugh added Heathrow is aiming to achieve 99.3% of total capacity and cannot accommodate additional services because the UK Government has banned evening services, from 23:30 to 6:00. Dubai, however, can accommodate such services. Dubai Airports plans to invest USD7.8 billion towards airport expansion to increase the airport's capacity from 60 million to 90 million passengers p/a by 2018. Part of its expansion plan includes the construction of Concourse 3, the world's largest dedicated A380 facility, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.