Al Maktoum Internationl Airport at Dubai World Central cleared for take-off: October 27

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the sole regulator of all licensed airfields in the UAE, has certified Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) for passenger operations after assessing and confirming full compliance of the aerodrome with its stringent requirements. This paves the way for a successful opening of the new passenger terminal building on October 27, 2013. GCAA’s Air Navigation and Aerodrome Department said the regulator accepted the implementation process for full passenger operations at the new airport and acknowledged the hard work and commitment of Dubai Airports in achieving the status of full aerodrome operations. Regulatory oversight is managed through the close cooperation of Dubai Airports Airside Operations staff who work closely with the GCAA to ensure that all aspects of operations at both DXB and DWC are fully compliant with the highest professional international standards and regulations set out in federal law. "This is a welcome and critical step forward in the process of preparing DWC for full passenger operations," said Jamal Zaal, Vice-President of Airside Operations at Dubai Airports. "We will continue to press ahead with trials that test every system, process and piece of equipment at the new terminal, be it signage, gates or boarding procedures to make sure the new facility is ready to accept passengers on October 27," he added. Facility preparations culminate in advanced passenger trails on October 12, 2013 where the full passenger journey through the new terminal will be tested by some 1,000 members of the travelling public to identify any areas for improvement before its doors open for business. An advanced passenger trial using employees will take place in early October as a dress rehearsal for the public trials. With the existing airport in Dubai on track for a record-breaking year and facing runway work next year, Dubai World Central has the capacity to showcase is capabilities if some airlines elect to temporarily switch flights there. The new passenger terminal building is designed to accommodate five to seven million passengers per year. When completed, DWC will be the largest airport in the world with five runways and capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo. Emirates 24/7