Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008

London: Dubai AirportsDubai Airports, the operator of the emirate's airport facilities, plans to decide by August-end a date for the opening of Dubai International AirportDubai International Airport's new Terminal 3, which aims to meet the demand of the city's rapidly growing air traffic.

Terminal 3 is currently undergoing extensive testing prior to its intended opening later this year.

"We are in the middle of an extensive testing programme at Terminal 3. We are testing passenger flow, baggage delivery, the gates, just about everything. We are hoping to regularise the issue and iron out glitches, if any. By the end of August, we will be in a better position to make a decision on when the Terminal will be ready for use," Dubai AirportsDubai Airports' chief executive officer Paul Griffiths told Gulf News at Newbury on Monday.

The new terminal boasts the most modern technology, including self-check bag drops as well as self-check-in passenger areas, he said.

Plans

Elaborating on the airport's expansion plans, where Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 will play central roles, Griffiths said: "The main objective is to increase the existing airport capacity from 33 to 60 million passengers per year, which we hope to achieve by 2010. This will keep us going for the next five years and assist in the transition to the new airport at Jebel Ali."

"Our desire is that the 60-million passengers who travel or transit through Dubai International AirportDubai International Airport are given a slice of what Dubai is about, and that is top class service. The size of the terminal, located under the main apron of and taxiway and will link directly with Concourse 2, will expand and improve service levels considerably," he said.

Griffiths, the former managing director of London's Gatwick Airport, said he was enthused to be part Dubai's development strategy for 2015, by which time it aims to become the world's biggest airport with a capacity to handle 120 million passengers annually.

"They have a free-thinking approach to development and a single purpose. The new facilities are not just about modern technology, but will be focus more on services," he added.

By Leslie Wilson Jr

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