New Dubai airport set to open in June

A COUPLE of short years ago the industry was inundated with press releases announcing the latest grand scheme for Dubai World Central – the name itself giving away the confidence and hugely ambitious plans for a giant complex and six-runway airport.

However, since the financial maelstrom hit the Emirate last year the future scope of the project has been plagued with uncertainty.

According to Al Maktoum International Airport’s vice-president cargo and logistics, Andrew Walsh, the airport (also known as Dubai World Central) should open at the end of June. But it remains unclear which carriers, if any, will move operations to it.

Walsh says that for reasons of commercial confidentiality he cannot discuss which carriers, or what type of carriers, are interested in operating out of the airport, though he says discussions are ongoing with both existing freighter operators at Dubai and new entrants.

One possible target could be sea-air operators. According to Walsh, sea-to-air transfers will be possible in four hours at the new airport, compared to 16-24 hours in the current one. “Frankly, I can’t imagine why a sea-air operator would not want to be flying there,” he says.

For the full story read the latest digital edition of Air Cargo News, dated 5 April, here.