37,000 Sq. Ft. Addition To Open At End Of March
Dnata’s operations at Terminal
2 at Dubai International Airport are set to increase dramatically
with the opening of a 37,000 sq. ft. extension, scheduled for the
end of March. This extension will increase the airport’s
surface area to 93,000 sq. feet.
The expanded facilities will see Dnata Airport Operations
servicing around 700 flights per week from Terminal 2, of which 320
will be cargo and 380 passenger-carrying operations. The company
tells ANN this is an increase of around 50% on current passenger
loads and will see a potential annual throughput of approximately
five million passengers.
The new airport expansion will also welcome a wealth of new
facilities, including six open boarding gates to replace the
current system of five gates, each with a holding lounge -- a first
for Dubai. Open boarding gates allow several flights to board
simultaneously, help cut down traffic flow and thereby reduce
boarding times significantly.
"We are very pleased to be working in conjunction with Dubai
Civil Aviation, the owners of the airport, to bring these
improvements to our commercial and cargo clients at Terminal 2,"
said Ahmed Langawi, Vice President, Terminal 2 Operations. "Since
it was opened in 1998, Terminal 2 has enjoyed tremendous growth.
Initially the airport was built to cope with 10 aircraft and had 22
check-in desks, one arrivals belt and five departure gates. When
the new extension is operational we will have 36 check-in desks,
three arrivals belts, six open boarding gates.
"Demand for the facilities at Terminal 2 has really taken off in
recent years and we look forward to offering our new and existing
customers state-of-the-art facilities in a more spacious
environment," Langawi added.
Other new facilities at the Terminal 2 extension include a First
and Business Class Lounge, a Marhaba ("Welcome") Lounge, a Special
Handling Lounge for passengers requiring extra assistance such as
wheelchair users or unaccompanied minors, extended duty free,
increased car parking, a left luggage store, a visa cancellation
desk, a Dnata ticketing desk and additional refreshment stops both
before check-in and after passport control.
Behind the scenes, the airport expansion will also include new
facilities for Dnata staff, including dedicated office space, a
conference room and refreshment facilities, as well as learning
resource and training centers, which allow staff to complete their
training needs in a comfortable and easy to access environment.