The second of a series of three trials, the exercise involved some 3,000 volunteers from the public and was focused on testing the whole spectrum of systems, processes and services at the new terminal, particularly those related to the transfer of transit passengers to connecting flights.
The trials are being conducted ahead of a phased transition of operations to the new terminal from 14th October. The 'soft' opening of the Emirates Airline-dedicated terminal will be implemented in four phases, ensuring that systems and processes are working to the highest standards of efficiency, enabling customers to make their way through the facility as easily and speedily as possible.
The third and final trial is scheduled to take place in late September.
Emphasising the importance of the second trial vis-à-vis its focus on transit passengers, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, explained that as an emerging global aviation hub, Dubai is fast becoming a major international transit point.
"A considerable percentage of our passenger traffic comprises transit passengers and their numbers are set to increase substantially over the coming years."
Griffiths expressed appreciation for the volunteers for their tremendous response to the trials, which he said would not have been possible without their participation.
He added: "We've had a great response from the volunteers - the members of the public, right from day one. We realised during the first trial that while the exercise was conducted in all seriousness, it was also a day out for the volunteers. Since the second trial mainly revolved around transit travellers, we decided to add a dash of fun for the volunteers as they wait in the holding areas acting out the scenario."
The operational trial on Saturday took on a festive colour with street performers entertaining the trial volunteers with magic tricks, juggling and mimes in and around the waiting lounges.
The volunteers also received a gift pack courtesy of Dubai Airports, Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free as a memento of their participation.
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Dubai Airports conducts second operational trial for Terminal 3
- United Arab Emirates: Sunday, August 31 - 2008 at 16:10
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Dubai Airports conducted on Saturday the second operational trial for Dubai International's Terminal 3.
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More information on the trials is available online at www.efast.ae/trials.TERMINAL 3 AND ASSOCIATED FACILITY*
The $4.5bn expansion includes Terminal 3 and two associated airside facilities (or concourses).
The expansion will cater to the rapid expansion of Emirates fleet, especially to serve its fleet of superjumbo the Airbus A380.
Terminal 3 and one of the two airside facilities will open in 2008.
The second airside facility will be dedicated to the A380 and is currently under construction.
TERMINAL 3
Multi-level underground structure measuring 300mX350m
Built-up area of 515,000 m² (Approximately the size of 94 football fields)
Departure/Arrival halls located 20m below the apron and taxiways
252 check-in counters
14 baggage belts
The car park is spread over an area of 177,500 m² (Approximately the size of 33 football fields). It has accommodated 1,870 vehicles.
Terminal 3 will have a total of 157 elevators, 97 escalators and 82 moving walkways (travelators)
Since Terminal 3 is underground, the baggage handling system here is not only the largest such system in the world, but also the deepest.
Total length of baggage belt is 90 kilometres and it will handle around 15,000 items of baggage per hour.
8,000 bags per hour can be checked-in at the check-in counters.
The baggage handling solution is a combination of belt and tray technology.
The system can transport baggage at 7.5 metres per second. It has up to 800 RFID read/write stations for 100% accurate tracking.
To eliminate disruptions, the system is designed to handle baggage larger than the norm and of indeterminate shape
TERMINAL-3 ASSOCIATED FACILITY*
Multi-level structure for departures, arrivals and other facilities; 10 storeys (Ground floor+5+4 basement floors)
924m long x 90.8 m wide (at mid point) x 39.5 m high; narrowing to 56m at both ends
Built up area of 670,000 m² (Approximately the size of 120 football fields)
Total of 26 contact gates
59 passenger loading bridges
Total shopping area of 10,700m2 at Concourse 2 and 4,800 m2 at Terminal 3 (duty free shop/storage/retail offices)
5 special gates to handle A380 Super Jumbo aircraft
300 room hotel and health club will include 5 and 3 star rooms
15,000 square meters to include Duty Free shopping and restaurants (combined with T3)
First and Business Class lounges
Automated People Movers
INTERESTING FACTS
The mega-project required the excavation of over 10 million cubic metres of earth, enough to fill 4,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Some 2.4 million cubic metres of concrete, enough to fill 950 Olympic-size swimming pools, was used in the construction of the project.
As much as 450,000 tonnes of steel was used for reinforcement and another 33,000 tonnes of steel was required for the structure; that's approximately the weight of 850 Airbus A380s.
(*The second cigar-shaped building on the airfield from where you board the aircraft.)
DUBAI AIRPORTS
Dubai Airports owns and operates Dubai International and the upcoming Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International.
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL
Connected to over 210 destinations across six continents through 123 airlines, Dubai International has grown at an unparalleled average of over 15% annually since 2002. With throughput reaching 34.4 million passengers, up 19.3% over 2006, Dubai International was the world's fastest growing airport in 2007 in terms of international passengers (among airports with 20 million passengers or over). An estimated 40 million passengers are expected to use Dubai International in 2008.
Dubai International accounts for over 27% of all passenger and aircraft movement in the Middle East and Africa region. The airport will open its new Terminal and associated airside facility in 2008 and another A380-specific facility in 2009, tripling its total capacity to 75 million PPA. Dubai expects 60 million passengers in 2012.
DUBAI WORLD CENTRAL - AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL
Even as the opening of Dubai International's $4.5bn expansion draws closer, work is already in progress on a project to build the world's largest airport barely 40 kilometres away. Upon completion Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International will have capacity to cater to 120 million passengers annually and handle 12 million tonnes of cargo at its 16 air cargo terminals.
For more information please contact:
Zaigham Ali
Senior Officer
Press Relations & Communications
Marketing & CorporateCommunications
Dubai Airports
Telephone: +971 4 216 6916
TeleFax: +971 4 2244 113
www.dubaiairport.com
Posted by Lara Lynn Golden, News EditorSunday, August 31 - 2008 at 16:10 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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