Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International opens for cargo flights

Dubai Airports officially opened Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International for cargo operations June 27 in Phase 1 of the airport's development. The emirate's new massive five-runway airport is slated to become operational for passenger flights in the 2011 first quarter. Inaugural cargo flights were operated by Rus Aviation, Skyline and Aerospace Consortium.

"Although it is a long-term project, the need for a second airport in the near- to mid-term is clear," Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said. "Dubai International currently has capacity for 2.5 million tonnes of cargo while volumes are expected to increase 48% to 3 million tonnes by 2015." Fifteen airlines have signed up to operate cargo flights to/from the airport.

"This is an important milestone, not only for the airport's certification process but as another step towards achieving Dubai's vision to become the preeminent center for aviation worldwide," said Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai Airports. "It's also a testament to the cooperation and dedication of all of the organizations and stakeholders involved, who have done an impressive job of building and preparing Phase 1 of the facility for launch in a very short timeframe."

Phase 1 features one operational runway capable of handling A380s, 64 remote stands, one cargo terminal with an annual capacity for 250,000 tonnes and a passenger terminal building designed to accommodate 5 million passengers per year. When completed around 2015, DWC will be the largest airport in the world with five runways, four terminal buildings and annual capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo, levels it anticipates reaching by 2030. It will serve as a cargo-only airport for about eight months.