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New signage at Dubai airport

The Dubai International airport (DXB) has installed a new alpha-numeric system for gate numbering and way-finding, making it easier for passengers to navigate through the world’s fourth busiest airport for international passenger traffic.

Based on the response of extensive customer research and feedback, Dubai Airports, airlines, ground handling and control agencies operating at the DXB applied a new alpha-numeric system across all airport signage and computer support systems during an intense and highly coordinated eight-hour window on Tuesday.

The move impacted everything from flight information display screens to boarding cards and airport reservation systems and required a change in more than 1,500 signs.

Hundreds of airport staff, including Dubai Airports’ May I Help You personnel, was deployed across the airport to support customers during the transition. “Essentially we have looked at this through the eyes of our customers to help them find their flights with ease and convenience,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO Dubai Airports. “Research shows us that passengers find alpha-numeric system a far easier way to navigate through the airport and locate their boarding gates,” he added.

DXB currently has three terminals (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) that are used for passenger drop-off, check-in, immigration and security clearance — and three concourses (Concourses 1, 2 and 3) that house boarding gates, airline lounges, majority of duty free retails, and food and beverage outlets. While the terminals retain their current numbering, all concourses and departure gates have been renamed. Concourse 1, which boards over 100 international airlines, has become Concourse C with gates numbered C1 to C50. Concourse 2 becomes Concourse B with gates B1 to B32 and Concourse 3 becomes Concourse A, featuring gates A1 to A24. When Concourse A opens in 2013, it will trigger a second round of upgrading which will feature the use of colour-coding and internationally recognised icons in addition to the use of alpha-numeric gate numbering.

On the other side of the airfield, gates in Terminal 2 have been numbered F1 to F6.

The remaining alpha-numeric sequences are being reserved for future airport facilities that are part of the Dubai Airports’ $7.8 billion expansion programme, including Concourse D, for which excavation work commenced in June. The updating and conversion of existing signage was the first phase of a long-term project.

news@khaleejtimes.com