Latest news with #WorldCentral
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The world's busiest international airport is shutting down. What's next?
When Dubai International (DXB) first opened in 1960, its runway was a strip of compacted sand. Fast forward 65 years and it's the busiest international airport on the planet, processing 92.3 million passengers last year alone (when including domestic passengers, it's pipped by Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson as the world's busiest). More of a luxury shopping mall with planes, DXB far outshines any of our airports and if, like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, you were ever stranded there, you probably wouldn't mind too much. Where else can you buy a Rolex, a Rolls-Royce and a McChicken sandwich before your 3am boarding call? It's basically The Ritz with baggage claim. Unsurprisingly, though, it's beginning to feel the strain. Hemmed in by highways and residential areas, DXB has nowhere to bulge, so last April UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that operations would slowly be phased across to Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), located 61 kilometres to the south of DXB, when its expansion is completed in 2032. Backed by the desert, this hyper-modern, AI-purring, mega-hub will be aviation's new darling with 400 aircraft gates (compared to the current 29) and poised to handle 260 million passengers per year once it's fully operational. With DXB being gently nudged aside like a beloved grandparent who's just a little too slow for today's high-speed air travel, what will become of the empty site? Dubai isn't the kind of city to let nearly 3000 hectares of prime urban real estate, just a 15-minute drive from downtown, gather sand. This is a place that built a ski slope in the desert and named islands after continents. They dream big, so something more innovative and headline-worthy is also likely. We game-planned some potential scenarios and explored how other decommissioned airports around the world have been reinvented to see where Dubai might take inspiration. Let's taxi down the runway of possibilities.
The Age
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
The world's busiest international airport is shutting down. What's next?
When Dubai International (DXB) first opened in 1960, its runway was a strip of compacted sand. Fast forward 65 years and it's the busiest international airport on the planet, processing 92.3 million passengers last year alone (when including domestic passengers, it's pipped by Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson as the world's busiest). More of a luxury shopping mall with planes, DXB far outshines any of our airports and if, like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, you were ever stranded there, you probably wouldn't mind too much. Where else can you buy a Rolex, a Rolls-Royce and a McChicken sandwich before your 3am boarding call? It's basically The Ritz with baggage claim. Unsurprisingly, though, it's beginning to feel the strain. Hemmed in by highways and residential areas, DXB has nowhere to bulge, so last April UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that operations would slowly be phased across to Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), located 61 kilometres to the south of DXB, when its expansion is completed in 2032. Backed by the desert, this hyper-modern, AI-purring, mega-hub will be aviation's new darling with 400 aircraft gates (compared to the current 29) and poised to handle 260 million passengers per year once it's fully operational. With DXB being gently nudged aside like a beloved grandparent who's just a little too slow for today's high-speed air travel, what will become of the empty site? Dubai isn't the kind of city to let nearly 3000 hectares of prime urban real estate, just a 15-minute drive from downtown, gather sand. This is a place that built a ski slope in the desert and named islands after continents. They dream big, so something more innovative and headline-worthy is also likely. We game-planned some potential scenarios and explored how other decommissioned airports around the world have been reinvented to see where Dubai might take inspiration. Let's taxi down the runway of possibilities.
CairoScene
06-03-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Aviation Provider Falcon Plans USD 100M Upgrade at Al Maktoum Airport
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, is projected to become the world's busiest airport by 2030. Mar 05, 2025 Falcon, an aviation service provider based in the UAE, is committing USD 100 million to expand its operations at Al Maktoum International Airport, focusing on upgrading its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility while establishing a new private jet terminal. The investment will unfold over the next five years as the company strengthens its presence at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub in Dubai. Spanning 13,705 sqm, Falcon's MRO facility is equipped to handle a wide range of aircraft, including the Airbus A380. It operates under CAR 145 certification from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority, which it secured in 2024, allowing it to provide maintenance services for aircraft such as Bombardier Challenger and Embraer models. Falcon currently employs over 80 professionals at its MRO facility, which forms part of its larger aviation portfolio. The company operates four brands, offering private jet charters, luxury terminals, technical services and flight support. The planned private jet terminal is expected to enhance Falcon's ability to serve high-net-worth travelers and business clients. Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, is projected to become the world's busiest airport by 2030, with a capacity of up to 260 million passengers annually. The airport was first opened for cargo operations in 2010, later launching passenger services in 2013 as part of Dubai's long-term strategy to shift major air traffic away from Dubai International Airport.
