All operations at Dubai International (DXB) will be transferred to Al Maktoum International (AMI) over the next few years. A new Dh128-billion passenger terminal at the AMI announced Sunday will scale up passenger capacity to 260 million annually and “fully absorb” DXB’s operations in 10 years.
The announcement marks phase two of the airport’s expansion. DXB will continue to serve as the primary hub “meeting the needs of 100 million plus guests over the next few years as phase two of DWC takes shape”, the operator of both airports said in a statement.
Dubai-based Emirates Airline called the airport its “future home” as it shared photos of the AMI.
Set to be five times the size of DXB, the airport will span 70 square-km once fully operational. It will have five parallel runways and five passenger terminals housing more than 400 aircraft gates.
In November last year, a top official had revealed plans to replace DXB — which is the world’s busiest airport — with a bigger one. Initial forecasts suggest that DXB’s traffic will surpass 88.8 million passengers in 2024.
“Al Maktoum International Airport will enjoy the world’s largest capacity, reaching up to 260 million passengers,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “New aviation technologies will be employed for the first time in the aviation sector.”
With the emirate building an “entire city” around the airport in Dubai South, demand for housing for a million people will follow, said the Dubai Ruler. “It will host the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors … Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre.”__Courtesy Khaleej Times
