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Dubai Airports to focus on existing terminals

By Abdul Basit DUBAI -- Dubai's new Al Maktoum International Airport is likely to see another delay in opening of its passenger terminal, which is set to open in October this year.

Dubai Airports , the operator of the two airports in the emirate, is fully focused on its existing passenger terminals as demand is increasing every day.

Last month the operator announced its full year 2010 results that revealed a 15.3 per cent growth in passenger demand over 2009. It is estimated that the airport will handle 52.2 million passengers by the end of 2011 with 11 per cent growth, according to the operator.

Cargo terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport was started in June last year and it was announced that the passenger terminal would be opened in March 2011. It was postponed to October and now Dubai Airports hints at another possible delay.

"We started cargo terminal on 24^th of June last year and there is going to be a need to have a passenger operation working on the new airport some stage in the future," Dubai Airports Chief Executive officer Paul Griffiths told Khaleej Times last week in Dubai.

For October deadline Griffiths said, "Its still a possible time, but we are keeping in review and will be making announcement soon as and when we get more information."

"We are focusing on our growth here [Dubai International airport] and reason for that is because the growth is so strong and exceeding our expectations," he said. Growth will be driven by a projected 10 per cent increase in Emirates passenger numbers and an anticipated doubling of flydubai traffic in 2011 as both airlines continue to expand their respective fleets and networks, according to Dubai Airports .

Today Dubai International airport has more than 130 carriers serving 220 destinations on six continents and its home to the world's most profitable airline. Before the end of the decade passenger numbers will approach 90 million making Dubai International the busiest airport in the world in terms of international
 passenger traffic.

Emirates is ordering aircraft and also delaying retirement of existing aircraft so fleet number get bigger and bigger, he added.

"Our problem is that we cannot develop Dubai World Central fast enough to cope with immediate demand so what we have done prioritise the development ....," he added.

Dubai International airport is undergoing a massive development for its Terminal 2 and a new Concourse 3. Concourse 3, set to become the world's first dedicated A380 facility, will boost capacity from the current 60 million passengers annually to 75 million, which, when combined with other facility enhancements and operational efficiencies will boost capacity to 90 million by 2018.

Carriers in the region witnessed around 18 per cent growth in passenger demand last year, compared to an 8.2 per cent international demand during the same period, the aviation body said in its annual performance report that issued on Wednesday.

"Middle Eastern carriers reported the strongest full year growth at 17.8 per cent on the back of a 13.2 per cent capacity increase fueled largely by aircraft deliveries to Gulf-based airlines," the Geneva-based aviation body said.

© Khaleej Times 2011