Al Maktoum International set to open for cargo operations

The mega airport, Dubai’s second international air hub, is designed to be the world’s largest airport when it is fully completed.

The first phase of the project will feature 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 when it goes full swing next year.

With the countdown started for the June 27 opening for cargo only operation, it is yet to be announced how many cargo carriers would be using the new world-class facility.

Eventually, the five-runway Al Maktoum International will be able to handle 160 million passengers a year, up from the previously projected 120 million, as well as 12 million tonnes of cargo.

Work on the first passenger terminal, a facility that’s about twice the size of Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2, is in the final stages and is expected to be completed by March 2011.

“The planning date is spring of 2011 and we are looking at the end of March for the start of passenger flights,” Andrew Walsh, Dubai World Central vice president for cargo and logistics has been quoted as saying.

Sunday’s first test landing was smooth and successful, an airport spokesman said. Emirates Flight EK9883, a Boeing 777 freighter operating Hong Kong-Dubai and piloted by Captain Ahmad Bin Huzaim and First Officer Nabil Yousuf Ahmad Mohammad Rai Al Boom, touched down at 1650 local time amid cheers from an enthusiastic gathering of stakeholders and dignitaries on hand to observe the historic occasion.

“This is an important milestone, not only for the airport’s certification process, but as another step towards achieving Dubai’s vision to become the pre-eminent centre for aviation worldwide,” said Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports. 
 “It’s also a testament to the cooperation and dedication of all of the organisations and stakeholders involved, who have done an impressive job of building and preparing Phase 1 of the facility for launch in a very short time frame.”

In the short term, Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will increase the airport capacity of Dubai to accommodate the 48 per cent increase in cargo volumes from 1.9 to 3 million tonnes that is anticipated by 2015. In the long term, it will serve as a multi-modal logistics hub for 12 million tonnes of freight and a global gateway for the 150 million passengers per annum that are expected to pass through Dubai by 2030.

Dubai Airports, the company overseeing airport projects in the emirate, freight volumes are expected to rise 12.2 percent this year.

On Sunday, during the test operation, the Boeing 777 flight effectively tested air traffic Control procedures, airfield and taxi way signage and routes, radio communication and a host of processes and procedures related to ground and cargo handling, fuelling, catering, customs, immigration and security.

“The test was an unmitigated success not only for Emirates SkyCargo, but most importantly for our customer Swift Freight,” said Ram Menen, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice-President Cargo.

“The fact that the airport is connected to Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone by a bonded road which cuts transfer times significantly is a strong sales point. Although our cargo hub continues to be Dubai International, there is no doubt that Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will play an increasingly important role – initially for spot cargo operations driven by customer need and eventually for scheduled freighter services.”


issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com