Dubai: Express buses by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will provide a 24-hour service to the newly opened Al Maktoum International Airport, RTA has announced.

One route, F55, will run every hour between Ibn Battuta Metro station and Al Maktoum International Airport from 6am to 10pm, while another route, F55A, will run at night time between Satwa bus station and the new airport via Ibn Battuta.

“The two routes will complement each other and the existing services like Metro and other bus routes that will allow quick transit for regular commuters,” said Eisa Abdur Rahman Al Hashemi, Acting Director of Planning and Business Development at RTA’s Public Transport Agency.

Apart from providing direct connectivity to Metro, F55 will link with Route 8 at Ibn Battuta offering access to central business district areas, as well as Route 99 for further connectivity to Jebel Ali Free Zone area.

From 10pm, Route F55A will replace F55 and offer services from Al Maktoum International Airport via key landmarks in Jebel Ali, Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah all the way to Satwa.

Al Hashemi said passengers can use C1 for the onward journey to CBD areas and Dubai International Airport.

“F55A and C1 will link at Satwa bus station and passengers from Jebel Ali can use this link to travel between Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai International Airport,” said Al Hashemi.

He added that studies are under way to see the feasibility of a direct route between the two airports.

“The new routes started from Sunday, October 27, and we will study the demand and ridership on these routes and if there is a need for a direct route between two airports it will definitely happen,” Al Hashemi said.

Route F55 will start from Ibn Battuta Mall and pass through several areas including Dubai College, Royal Mirage Hotel, Royal Meridian Jumeirah Hotel, Al Waha Beach Hotel, Hilton Jumeirah Hotel, Al Hadaeq Intersection in Jebel Ali to Al Maktoum International Airport.

Route F55A will start from Al Satwa bus station and pass areas such as Al Qaderi Mosque, Special Needs Centre, Jumeirah Post Office, Hilton Beach Club, Jumeirah Beach Park, Al Ghareefa Council, Jumeirah Mosque (3), Umm Suqeim Park, Wild Wadi, Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah City and Sufouh Street to Al Maktoum International Airport.