(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Dubai International Airport will open the doors to its upgraded Terminal 2, which will boost its capacity by 50 per cent from the current level beginning today.
At present, more than 50 airlines operate out of Terminal 2. Recent expansions and refurbishments have increased its annual capacity to five million passengers from three million, which will reach 7.5 million passengers with today's opening of the upgraded area.
The increased capacity will further help Dubai International to become the world's busiest airport for international passengers soon. The airport is currently ranked No. 2.
Terminal 2 is home to Dubai's budget airline flydubai, which launched operations on June 1, 2009. At the moment, the low-cost carrier accounts for around 80 per cent of the total passengers at the terminal. Inaugurated on May 1, 1998, to alleviate congestion at Terminal 1, Terminal 2 caters to scheduled, charter and special interest flights during special occasions. The first of a three-phase expansion planned for Terminal 2 include the introduction of a new 200 metre-long, 90 metre-wide main hall that will increase the size of the terminal to almost 600,000 metres. New baggage handling facilities have also been added.
The Terminal 2 building as a whole will be modernised in stages to meet the urgent needs and the steady increase in the number of passengers through this terminal, especially flydubai passengers.
Flydubai touches more than 60 destinations and operates more than 1,000 flights per week. The budget carrier carried 5.1 million passengers in 2012.
Operator Dubai Airports has already announced its plan for refurbishment of Dubai International's Terminal 1 and the new facility will provide passengers with improved service and accessibility.
The refurbishment of Terminal 1 includes more efficient and streamlined baggage screening in the departures hall, the replacement of all check-in desks, upgrade of baggage systems and the modernisation of all public areas. The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
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