By Bindu Rai www.emirates247.com
Dubai Airports has unveiled the expansion plans of Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, boosting passenger capacity from the current six million passengers to 26 million by 2018.
Following phase 2 of the expansion, the ‘ultimate airport’ will hold a passenger capacity of 240m and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Enhanced features would include downtown check-in facilities, rail integration and enhanced security measures that facilitate security pre-clearance for passengers before they reach their final destination.
Unveiling the plans at the ongoing Arabian Travel Market exhibition, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths also confirmed the new Concourse D at Terminal 1 of Dubai International was in its final stages of a $7.8 billion investment programme.
Griffiths said: “Concourse D is in its final phase of the $7.8 billion investment programme; we are going to take it from the contractor in the next few weeks.
“Once opened, we will be able to accommodate 18m passengers annually.”
Linked to Terminal 1 via an automated people mover, the new concourse will be spread across 65,000 square metres, with 32 gates (21 contact stands, 11 remote).
Griffiths further explained: “Check-in for Concourse D will ferry passengers in a train of five carriages, with 300 passengers at full capacity. The need to walk long to your gate will be eliminated.”
Incorporating an open-gate concept, the new Concourse will also serve 20 new restaurants, along with hosting nine airline lounges.
The refurbished Terminal 1 will have 207 check-in desks and four over-sized baggage check-in desks spread across six check-in zones for different airlines
The new Terminal 1 will also feature 15 per cent more check in counters, self-check in kiosks and in-line security screening of baggage at check-ins, as well as 30 per cent additional counters for immigration (arrivals) to ensure passenger comfort.
“However, with this we will eventually run out of expansion capacity at DXB International,” said Griffiths. More info
