The eagerly awaited official opening of SkyCargo’s new air freight terminal at the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai is set to take place in December. With a capacity to handle 700,000 tonnes of cargo per year, it will be the largest cargo terminal in the world.
SkyCargo’s new air freight terminal at the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai
The opening will mark the completion of Phase One of a project that is expected to be fully completed by September 2014. And when the final touches of the project are made, Emirates’ SkyCargo will then have the capacity to handle a total of 1 million tonnes of air freight annually.
The development is a key part of Dubai World Central (DWC), the world’s first purpose-built aerotropolis, which will eventually handle an estimated 12 million tonnes of cargo per year, turning Dubai into the chief hub between Australia and Europe. SkyCargo currently operate scheduled cargo flights to and from both Melbourne and Sydney, with the increased capacity at their new terminal effectively opening further trade opportunities for Australian importers and exporters.
“The development of our new freighter cargo terminal is progressing well. Once complete, it will be a modern and efficient cargo facility that can be expanded to meet our future growth requirements,” said Nabeel Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, in a statement.
“The relocation of our freighter fleet to Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport is an investment in our future, as the logistics and cargo development at the airport is set to become a major global cargo hub once complete, with world-class facilities and infrastructure.”
Work on the terminal began in July this year, with a supporting infrastructure comprising 46 truck docks, 80 truck parking spaces, and 12 aircraft stands directly in front of the terminal included. Emirates SkyCargo is set to make the facility the home of its freighter operations in May 2014, moving from its current home in the Dubai International Airport, before Phase Two is completed 4 months later.
Al Maktoum International Airport opened in June 2010 to cargo operators, and figures released in February this year confirmed its fast-growing significance, with almost 220,000 tonnes of air freight handled during 2012. That number represented an increase of 144% on the previous year, with some 30 airlines making use of its cargo facilities.
Dubai World Central will begin to cater to passenger flights in October when Nasair and Wizz Air become the first carriers to operate from its passenger terminal. Completed in 2012, it is designed to cater for 7 million passengers, a fraction of the estimated 160 million that Dubai World Central is expected to accommodate when the 140-square kilometre complex is eventually finished in 2027.
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