Business | Aviation

Dubai airport looks for dummy passengers

Dubai International Airport is seeking volunteers to act as mock passengers in the run up to the opening of Terminal 3 in the coming months.

  • By Shakir Husain, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:45 April 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Dubai: Dubai International Airport is seeking volunteers to act as mock passengers in the run up to the opening of Terminal 3 in the coming months.

To ensure that it does not face the kind of chaos that hit the recent inauguration of Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport, Dubai plans to open the new terminal after intensive trials, according to officials.

Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, said the systems and services are being tested at the terminal before it is opened to scheduled flights in "the next few months."

"We are asking volunteers to come and participate in the trials," he said.

Members of the public, from frequent flyers to first timers, can register at http://dca.efast.ae/trials to take part in these trials.

Airport officials are also holding talks with government agencies such as customs and police in order to make sure that the opening is smooth.

Griffiths said opening of the approach roads is being coordinated with the Roads and Transport Authority as the airport expects heavy passenger rush this summer and traffic congestion could hamper the airport's operations. The Heathrow terminal's opening was marred by a breakdown of its baggage handling system.

"We do not want to open the terminal with any problem," Griffiths said, adding that Dubai will avoid the "big bang approach" of starting operations at full capacity from the start.

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