KHALEEJ TIMES, Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021 | Jumada Al-Uola 16, 1443
Dubai airport now operates at 100% capacity, final phase of Concourse A opens
Emirates:
Dubai International (DXB) airport is now operating at 100 per cent
capacity after the opening of the final phase of Concourse A at Terminal 3.
A press statement issued by Dubai Airports on Monday said all terminals,
concourses, lounges, restaurants, and retail outlets are now open.
Terminal 3 is expected to serve more than 1.6 million passengers in the second
half of December during the month's peak seasonal travel period.
Visitors to Dubai exceeded one million in October and DXB reached the important
milestone of one million passengers per week in November, with
origin-destination passengers reaching 94 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
"Reaching the point where 100 per cent of our facilities are now open and
serving customers, plus the huge resurgence in passengers arriving into Dubai
marks an important milestone for the aviation sector as well as for the city of
Dubai and its economic growth," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
“We took early steps to implement best-in-class hygiene and health protocols,
fast track PCR testing facilities, and enhanced customer service and guest
support resources to ensure the comfort, convenience and safety of travellers –
and this has resulted in a strong recovery towards pre-pandemic levels of
passengers,” he said.
The journey back to full operations following the closure in March 2020 began
with the reopening of Terminals 2 and 3 and Concourses B and C for normal
inbound passenger operations from June 22, 2020, following the easing of
international travel regulations for residents by UAE authorities.
Outbound travel for UAE citizens and residents was opened on June 23 while Dubai
welcomed the first international tourists from July 7, 2020.
Dubai Airports reopened Terminal 1 and Concourse D, home to over 60
international airlines, on June 24, 2021.
Over past 18 months, there has been a steady increase in passenger traffic which
has intensified in recent months. Traffic reached 10.6 million passengers in the
first half of 2021, followed by robust growth in Q3 of 2021 and a surge in
October 2021 which took the year-to-date passenger numbers to 20.7 million.
28.9 million passengers in 2021
With the busy holiday season to the end of the year showing further growth,
passenger numbers are expected to reach 28.9 million by the end of 2021, 2.1
million more than the September 2021 forecast.
"The rate of recovery of DXB has exceeded most other airports of comparable size
and highlights the positive international reputation that Dubai has as an
attractive city that has taken decisive steps to protect its visitors and
residents. The number of visitors to Dubai is likely to exceed pre-pandemic
levels during the final few weeks of the year which is an excellent milestone on
our journey towards full recovery," Griffiths added.