DUBAI last month (June) opened its largest airport, Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International, joining an elite group of two-airport cities, and ushering in a new era for the emirate’s transport and logistics industry.

Three air freight companies have begun operations from the new airport with 12 others due to follow, according to the airport’s operator, Dubai Airports. Inaugural flights operated by Rus Aviation, Skyline and Aerospace Consortium were completed at the airport located on a stretch of desert 10 km inland from Jebel Ali port and on the doorstep of Dubai’s largest free zone, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafz), which is home to 6,000 registered companies.
The first phase is confined to freight traffic, with a capacity to handle 250,000 tonnes annually while passenger traffic was scheduled to begin in March 2011, with an annual capacity of five million passengers.
Part of a $33-billion (Dh121.206 billion) urban development, which is twice the size of Hong Kong island, the airport to be spread over 104 km will see the launch of its passenger terminal in March next year.
When completed, Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will be the largest airport in the world with five runways, four terminal buildings and capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo – a mammoth transit hub that could trump Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for the No 1 spot.
The airport will be 10 times the size of the current Dubai International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined.
Initially, the airport will operate one A380-capable runway, 64 remote stands, one cargo terminal with annual capacity for 250,000 tonnes of cargo and a passenger terminal building designed to accommodate five million passengers per year.
Al Maktoum International Airport will also boast hotels and shopping malls, support facilities and state-of-the-art maintenance facilities, which will create a regional maintenance hub capable of all checks on all aircraft, including the A380. The airport will be linked to the existing, award-winning Dubai International Airport (DXB) via an express rail system and ultimately will be serviced by the Dubai Light Railway Network (Dubai Metro). Some 100,000 car-parking spaces will be available for airport parking and car rental services.
Only one runway has been built as part of the $820-million investment Dubai’s airport company is estimated to have made in the new airport so far.