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Ready to take off: When complete, DWC will be the largest airport in the world GN Archives Image Credit: Gulf News Archives

Dubai: Dubai World Central’s (DWC) first passenger airline is offering fares as low as €25 (Dh125) on its inaugural flights.

Low-cost European carrier Wizz Air will fly to Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine from the new Al Maktoum International Airport on October 27. Seats to Budapest, Bucharest and Sofia start from €25 while Kiev fares begin at €40.

“Low fares such as these are truly insane — we’re losing our heads over these fares and so are our passengers when they flock to our website to book as many seats as possible on our first flights departing from Dubai World Central airport to different European cities,” said Daniel de Carvalho, spokesman for Wizz Air from Switzerland.

Passengers don’t have to worry about the long commute to DWC. A spokesperson for Dubai Airports told XPRESS: “A shuttle will operate between DWC and the Metro station at Ibn Battuta Mall. Dubai Airports is working with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the passenger terminal will open with appropriate public transport connections.”

Jazeera airways

The flight by Wizz Air will be followed by Jazeera Airways.

The Dubai Airports spokesperson said: “We currently have MoUs with Wizz Air, Jazeera Airways and (Saudi airline) Nasair to fly from DWC. Wizz Air has confirmed it will commence operations on October 27 as our launch customer, while Jazeera will start operations on October 31.”

Jazeera Airways, a Kuwaiti airline, will launch two weekly flights from Kuwait to DWC, complementing its existing flights from Dubai International Airport. However, it is not immediately clear when the Saudi airline Nasair will fly from DWC.

Flight jump

“We are in talks with several other airlines. We do anticipate an increase in flights and passenger numbers while the Dubai International runway rehabilitation project is underway, although we don’t as yet know how many or which airlines will elect to use DWC as an alternative.”

Ongoing trials at DWC are slated to end on October 12 when the new terminal will be tested by some 1,000 volunteers.

The passenger terminal at DWC can accommodate five to seven million passengers per year. When complete, it will be the largest in the world with five runways.