Dubai opens sprawling 2nd airport to passengers

[Terpe]

A passanger arrives at the newly opened Al-Maktoum International airport in Dubai, October 27, 2013

The Gulf emirate of Dubai on Sunday, October 27, opened passenger operations at its second airport, Al-Maktoum International, touted to be the world's largest once it is completed.

A Wizz Air plane from Budapest was the first passenger aircraft to land at the sprawling new facility, and it was welcomed on the tarmac with a water cannon salute.

Jazeera Airways, another low-cost carrier, will follow suit on Thursday with daily flights to and from Kuwait, while Bahrain's national carrier, Gulf Air, will begin operations on December 8.

No other airlines have announced intentions to use the new airport, which lies some 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Dubai International, one of the world's busiest hubs for air passengers.

Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, was confident that other companies would follow "in the coming months".

He pointed out that 36 cargo carriers currently operate out of the new airport, compared to only two in 2010.


The newly opened Al-Maktoum International airport, the emirate's second airport in Dubai

Dubai International handled 57 million passengers in 2012, as it has become a major stop for air traffic between the West, Asia and Australasia.

Al-Maktoum International was opened only for cargo in June 2010, while passenger operations were repeatedly delayed.

The new airport is situated in Dubai World Central, an economic zone the government hopes to turn into what it calls an "aerotropolis".

Once completed, it is to feature five runways that will be able to handle an annual capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo.

It is built next to Dubai Jebel Ali Free Zone and its port, which is one of the world's largest man-made harbors, and a major containers terminal.

It is part of a grand project announced during Dubai's economic boom, but the pace of progress slowed during the financial crisis that hit the Gulf emirate in 2009.

The airport "will play a vital role in the future development of Dubai as a centre for trade, commerce, transport, logistics and tourism", Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.

The new airport is not aimed at replacing Dubai International, where expansion work is continuing, at least not for the time being, according to Griffiths.

"If DXB (Dubai International) is to close, it isn't a decision we have to make probably for the next 30, 40 years," he told reporters

Source:-
http://www.rappler.com/business/indu...-to-passengers

[raynaputi]

You can watch the show in Nat Geo, Ultimate Airport Dubai (it has 10 episodes I think). That new airport was featured there.

[Rosie1958]

I went past the new airport whilst in Dubai this year. The Sheikh wants Dubai to be THE leading holiday destination in the world and this new airport is part of the master plan to achieve that. The rate of building and growth in Dubai is absolutely formidable and there are masses of British expats living on the man-made Palm helping with the massive construction programme.

Apart from Philippines, I have NEVER seen so many Filipinos as I have in Dubai, they are everywhere! I don't know why you guys go all the way to Philippines in search of a Filipina partner when there are so many in Dubai which is only a 6 hour 30 minute flight away!

Oh, and they even have a Shoe Mart there!

[Terpe]

...Apart from Philippines, I have NEVER seen so many Filipinos as I have in Dubai, they are everywhere! I don't know why you guys go all the way to Philippines in search of a Filipina partner when there are so many in Dubai which is only a 6 hour 30 minute flight away!

I seem to remember someone here suggesting that a few times

I enjoy Dubai in short bursts.
Used to be my regular stop-over when travelling to India, Pakistan etc

[stevewool]

Oh, and they even have a Shoe Mart there!

, i hope Ems has not read this , if so looks like this is our next stop, cheap gold too, a double