Passengers flying with Emirates Airline to GCC countries and the Americas will be the first to depart from Dubai International Airport's Terminal Three when it opens next month, the airline announced yesterday. From October 14, Emirates will fly 40 flights a day, about 15 per cent of its total services, from its new home, including services to New York's JFK Airport.
Flight EK843 to Doha, an Airbus A330-200, will be the first scheduled Emirates flight to leave the US$4.5 billion (Dh16.5bn) terminal, which will have five gates specifically designed to accommodate the airline's upcoming fleet of 58 Airbus A380 superjumbos. Although it will open in phases, in contrast to the full-scale launch of London Heathrow's Terminal Five, where 20,000 bags were lost in the opening days, there are concerns that delays and lost luggage will be inevitable.
"With any new facility, and especially one as mammoth as the new terminal, some teething problems can occur, but we do have robust back-up plans in place," said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group. "The continuing trials and the phased opening will go a long way in minimising unforeseen disruptions." Emirates was conducting trials and testing at Terminal Three at a "feverish pace" to iron out operational blips and to remove any system bugs before the soft opening, the company said in a statement.
Last month, more than 2,000 volunteers took part in a trial, including a test of the baggage system and signs, as well as customs and immigration. The next major passenger trial is scheduled for September 27. Asked whether the switch to Terminal Three would cause delays to passengers and baggage, a spokesman said few, if any, delays were expected. "Dubai Airports has a robust baggage system in place, which has performed successfully during the trials that have been running for many months now.
"We are confident that the continuous baggage trials, including another major one scheduled for 27th September and leading up to the opening, will ensure that we face minimal problems if any," she said. Emirates said it was also co-ordinating with its travel trade network to inform passengers of the change in terminal, which will be reflected in reservations and ticketing systems. Emirates Group staff have been fully trained in the terminal's new systems and facilities, the statement added.
The airline said it was unable to give firm dates for the start of the remaining three phases, revealing only that a new phase would begin once the previous one was running smoothly. Phase two will include flights to the airline's remaining Middle East destinations and Africa, increasing operations to 99 flights every day, or 37 per cent of all flights. Flights to Europe will take off in the next phase, escalating operations to 168 daily flights, or 60 per cent of all Emirates' services.
The fourth and final phase will include flights to the Indian subcontinent, East Asia and Australasia and bring the total to 269 flights every day. Although the terminal's completion is two years overdue, Emirates said the delay had an insignificant impact on its expansion plans since it coincided with a two-year production delay of the Airbus A380. The new terminal has a built-up area of 515,000 square metres, with more than 250 check-in counters, including 126 for economy class passengers, 32 for first and business classes and 60 self-service kiosks for those with and without baggage.
In addition, 10 counters will be dedicated to Skywards premium members and 18 will be set aside for oversized baggage. Despite a huge investment in the new terminal, it is regarded as a stopgap until the much larger Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali opens in the next decade. @Email:rditcham@thenational.ae
