Airport expansion no flight of fantasy

The expansion work currently under way at the Dubai International Airport (DIA) reflects the evolution the airline and aviation industries in the country have experienced over the decades.

The new facilities at the airport highlight the persistence in planning and in keeping pace with the developments taking place in the economy in general.

Currently, the DIA has a capacity of 22 million passengers. The new expansion is expected to handle over 60 million passengers within a year, with the provision of up to 2,000 car spaces.

In addition, airside facilities are under construction to specifically accommodate the super-jumbo airplanes, of which Emirates has the largest single order. With a total cost of more than Dh17 billion, the numbers involved are by all accounts impressive.

But as with all major projects, there are crucial areas which have to be looked into also, especially with regard to the logistics involved in the movement of such large numbers of vehicles and people.

These massive numbers bring to the fore issues pertaining to traffic and all its related problems. Given that the expansion plans are part of the emirate's strategic plan for 2015, it is hoped that any possible problems arising as a result are dealt with innovative solutions.