Dubai
Even as Emirates and all other airlines shift operations in full to Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, Dubai International will continue to operate as a functional airport, according to Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports.
“Dubai International airport will always remain as an airport, where it is today. That’s because you also have to think down the road what the capacity is going to be at that time,” he said. Asked if there were other plans being considered for the Dubai International space – to be utilised for other services (non-aviation) once all airlines shift operations to the new airport, Shaikh Ahmad said: “No. Dubai will always have two airports, parallely.”
Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths had reportedly said in October last year it could find “alternative purposes” for the prime real estate [Dubai International airport].
In a Bloomberg interview, he had said that Dubai Airports won’t retain the existing base if owning two hubs hampers the take-up of flights at its new Al Maktoum International site.
