Airport News

Dubai’s second airport could welcome its first full-service airline in summer 2014.

Dubai World Central will open to passengers in October this year with Wizz Air and nasair starting operations from October 27.

Construction of the passenger terminal building was completed in 2012.

The new terminal will offer F&B and retail outlets and is serviced by one A380-capable runway, 64 remote aircraft stands and has capacity for up to seven million passengers per year.

Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, told Arabian Business: “We’re talking to a great number of airlines but airlines really don’t like being the first mover and when you see an airline go in and be successful, then you’ll find that we’re overtaken by a complete stampede of airlines wanting to be there.

“Just the announcement of the first airlines to operate at DWC has led to some discussion with other airlines, and we are approaching some and preparing proposals.

“So I’m hopeful that over the next few months we will be announcing some more carriers will be operating from DWC.

“I imagine what will happen is, we’ll see airlines that have got started there get on and maybe very soon after that, possibly the following summer season in 2014, [a full-service carrier will begin operations there].”

Dubai World Central opened for cargo operations in June 2010.

Last year, it welcomed 36 airlines (scheduled and chartered), handling 219,092 tonnes of cargo on 16,317 aircraft movements.