Runway upgrade to reduce Dubai flights in 2014

A major runway refurbishment program is set to reduce passenger flights into Dubai International Airport for an 80-day period next year. The work on the airport, the worlds second-biggest in terms of international flights, will see all cargo, charter and private aircraft diverted to the new Al Maktoum International Airport, which is opening to commercial carriers on 27 October.

In a statement, Dubai Airports said that Al Maktoum International ‘will be an available alternative’ to take commercial flights that were affected by the disruption. The airport said that one of the facility’s two runways was nearing the end of its design life, and that runway lighting and new taxiways were needed to enhance the other.

The southern runway will be out of action from 1 to 31 May, while the northern runway will be upgraded between 31 May and 20 July. “Safety and service are our two top priorities,” Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said. “While we regret any inconvenience caused to our airline customers and our passengers, these upgrades are necessary to heighten safety, boost capacity and quite literally pave the way for future expansion.”

The refurbishment is part of a planned US$ 7.8 billion upgrade to Dubai International Airport, which will allow the facility to cope with up to 90 million passengers a year. The improvements include the construction of Concourse three and Concourse four (which will be completed in 2015) and expansions to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Passenger traffic at the airport exceeded five million people for the fourth straight month in March, jumping 20.6% from a year earlier. Dubai International handled 5.85 million passengers in March compared to 4.85 million a year ago. Year-to-date traffic was up 15.6% to 16.49 million passengers.