Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, is all set to welcome its first passenger flights tomorrow (October 27) when launch carriers - Bahrain's national airline Gulf Air, Saudi budget carrier nasair, Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways and Hungarian airline Wizz Air - start operations into Dubai's second airport.

The airport at the world's first purpose-built aerotropolis (DWC) had launched its freighter operations in June this year. The new passenger terminal building has been designed to accommodate five to seven million passengers per year, said a statement from Dubai Airports.

DWC is at close proximity to the Jumeirah Village, International Media Production Zone, Sports City, Motor City and the Arabian Ranches,  said the airport operator.  

The airport is directly accessed through three primary trans-emirate road networks, Sheikh Zayed Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. Access is also provided by public transport services including buses, taxis and the Metro rail network that extends to the Ibn Battuta shopping mall nearby, it stated.

On its DWC launch, Gulf Air said it will be officially operating its daily service linking DWC to its home base in Bahrain starting from December 8. The airline already operates 51 flights per week into Dubai International but is targeting travellers who value the new airport’s convenience and proximity to new Dubai.

Saudi low-cost airline nasair said it plans to operate over 50 flights per week between Dubai and a number of destinations in Saudi Arabia. Nasair said it was extremely excited to be one of the first airlines to launch passenger services from DWC starting from October 28.

Jazeera Airways said it will be flying twice a week (Thursdays and Saturdays) from Kuwait to the new Al Maktoum International Airport at DWC starting from October 31.  
 
The new route to DWC complements Jazeera Airways’ current operation between Kuwait and Dubai International, which will remain unchanged at an average 25 flights per week, said the airline in its statement.
 
Hungary-based Wizz Air, which provides low-cost air transport across 30 countries with 16 bases across Europe, will provide non-stop services linking DWC to Central and Eastern Europe starting from October 27.

Wizz Air has a fleet of 40 Airbus A320 aircraft operating over 1,500 weekly flights to 93 destinations.

Upon opening, the new facility will offer full retail as well as food and beverage amenities. It is serviced by one A380 capable runway, 64 remote aircraft stands and has capacity for up to 7 million passengers per yearm, said the statement from Dubai Airports.

By the mid-2020s, Al Maktoum International Airport will have the capacity to handle 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo, it added.-TradeArabia News Service