Dubai’s Mega Airport Opens for Business

The airport that is expected to become the world's largest, Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai, opened the doors for its first commercial passengers this weekend. Once the airport reaches full capacity in the mid 2020s, it is expected to handle 160 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo per year. Atlanta airport, which is currently the world's busiest, accommodates 90 million passengers per year.

The airport currently has one runway capable of servicing the Airbus A380 and a terminal that can serve up to 7 million passengers per year. Upon full completion there will be five parallel runways and up to four terminals at the airport. The cost for the development has been estimated at $32 billion.

The airport has been servicing cargo traffic since June of 2010 and has serviced general aviation since early 2011.

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Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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