Dubai’s blueprint to revamp Terminal 1

The project, part of Dubai Airports’ $7.8 billion Strategic Plan 2020, seeks to ensure more efficient and streamlined baggage screening in the departures hall, the replacement of all check-in desks, upgrade of baggage systems and the modernisation of all public areas.

The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of next year, Dubai Airports said in a statement.

“In addition to significantly increasing our capacity, the upgrade of Terminal 1 together with the construction of Concourse D will offer our passengers a more inviting and comfortable environment in line with the newer facilities across the terminals at Dubai International,” Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.

“The new baggage screening process will greatly improve passenger flow by eliminating a queuing point, reducing the time it takes passengers to move from the forecourt in Terminal 1 to the departure gates.

“The additional space created by streamlined baggage process will be used to transform the departures hall into a more spacious and welcoming environment and when combined with upgraded way finding signage, provide a more easily accessible building for the travelling public,” the statement said.

The revamp also includes the reconfigured and expanded arrivals hall where all greeters will be accommodated within a fully air-conditioned space with new food and retail outlets.

The arrivals immigration hall is also being refurbished to improve passenger flow and reduce processing times for incoming passengers. The adjoining arrivals forecourt will be reconfigured to improve traffic flow and create a safer pedestrian environment for all passengers leaving the Terminal 1 arrivals hall.

After the completion of the refurbishment, Terminal 1 will be linked via a new elevated train system to Concourse D, which is currently under construction. Concourse D will become the new home of the more than 100 airlines that fly to and from Dubai International when it opens in 2015.

The Strategic Plan has been designed to deliver aviation infrastructure, which will support the continuation of the sector’s impressive growth, facilitate Dubai’s economic expansion and generate an estimated 22 per cent of total employment and 32 per cent of the emirate’s GDP by 2020. The plan will see Dubai International’s capacity increased to 90 million by 2018. Cargo traffic is expected to hit 4.1 million tonnes from 2.2 million tonnes by 2020.

The airport currently serves more than 150 airlines flying to over 220 destinations across six continents.

At present, the collective capacity of the airport’s three terminals is 60 million passengers per annum. It will increase to 75 million passengers when the A380-dedicated Concourse 3 opens.

Dubai International’s passenger traffic in the first 11 months of 2012 reached 52.363 million up 13.1 per cent over 46.287 million recorded during the same period in 2011.

issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com