Dubai: Airlines are being offered large discounts to shift operations to Al Maktoum International when runway repairs cut capacity at Dubai International later this year.
Dubai International will close both of its runways over the 80-day period with the southern runway closed from May 1 to May 31 and the northern runway closed from May 21 to July 20.
The closure, which is due to scheduled maintenance work, has airlines and Dubai Airports spokesperson rethinking their summer schedule.
“We are providing free landing for passenger airlines and free parking for up to six hours for airlines going to [Al Maktoum International] for the 80 day period,” a Dubai Airports told Gulf News in an emailed statement.
Dubai Airports has been working with airlines and other stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the runway closure. A letter from Dubai Airports dated April 2013, leaked last year, suggested Emirates and flydubai would need to cut their services by 22 per cent whilst other airlines could face up to a 50 per cent reduction to their schedule.
During the Dubai Airshow Emirates President Tim Clark said the airline would not be splitting its operations and instead opt to reduce capacity by storing planes at Al Maktoum.
Just two weeks ago flydubai confirmed to Gulf News that it will be shifting part of its operations to Al Maktoum during the runway period. Royal Brunei has also previously confirmed it will move part of its schedule.
Whilst neither airline would comment on the cost of the intermittent shift, a flydubai spokesperson told Gulf News in an emailed statement that “the approach that has been taken will minimise disruption to passengers during this period and operating some of our flights from DWC will bring capacity to an otherwise constrained market.”
Currently, 15 freighter and 28 passenger airlines have applied to fly from Al Maktoum during the Dubai International runway repair period but not all spots are guaranteed and will be offered on a first come first serve basis, the Dubai Airports spokesperson stated.
Al Maktoum International has one A380 capable runway and a capacity for up to 7 million passengers per year. In contrast Dubai International handled 5,337,544 passengers in November 2013 alone.
“We have a number of operational and planning teams that are actively working on the project with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transfer of operations to DWC,” the Dubai Airports spokesperson stated.
