Second public trial of DXB's A380 Concourse receives overwhelming response

Nearly 1,500 volunteers, including staff, participated in the trial on Saturday, playing different scenarios as passengers to test the readiness of each aspect of the A380 facility ahead of its opening in 2013.

"The response from the residents of the UAE was just tremendous and we are very thankful to all the people who signed up and showed up with family and friends on their day-off to participate in the exercise. The huge response also meant that we couldn't accommodate everyone who signed up for the trial, but we are grateful for their support and hope they will have more opportunities in the future as we continue to expand our facilities," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

Organised by Dubai Airports in collaboration with Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Emirates airline, Dubai Duty Free, dnata, Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner Affairs (GDRFA) and Dubai Customs, the trial was conducted with a view to assess the readiness of the new facility, and improve customer service quality at the airport by timely detection and correction of any shortcomings. The trial also enables on-the-job staff training and helps boost staff confidence by making them familiar with the new facility.

"In the days ahead, feedback from the operational trials will help us identify the systems, processes or facilities that need to be adjusted to ensure smooth operations. The trials are vital for a successful opening of the new facility," Griffiths added.

Concourse A is part of the Terminal 3 complex which is built for the exclusive use of Emirates airline, and will increase Dubai International's annual passenger capacity from 60 million to 75 million when it opens next year.