Dubai forecasts air passengers will reach 126 million by 2020

Dubai’s aviation sector has soared to the sky during the last year, and will continue to do so according to airport reports. It is expected that the number of passengers will increase to 126 million until 2020.

Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports have been forced to expand due to growing number of travelers visiting or passing through the emirate.

Based on a recent report, Dubai’s airports are expected to cater to 126 and 200 million passengers by 2020 and 2013 respectively.

At present, Dubai International has been ranked the number one international airport. It has also been ranked the sixth busiest airport in the world. On the other hand, Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, which is located in Dubai World Central (DWC), catered to almost 850,000 passengers during its first year of operation last year.  Currently it is able to cater to 5-7 million passengers.

After the expansion plans will have been completed, DWC’s airport will be able to cater to 220 million passengers. The expansion plans will be completed into two phases. It is hoped that over the next 6-8 years, the first phase of the expansion will be completed. It is projected that the expansion will cost over 30 billion dollars and the airport will have the capacity to cater to 120 million passengers.

Dubai’s vision to develop into an international hub is well on its way. The emirate is considering ways in order to cater to the demand its on-going growth has generated. As Dubai’s officials confirm, Dubai does not simply plan but it executes what it plans.

Dubai’s Al Maktoum International lies on 140 square kilometer plot on the southern part of the city. By the end of the expansion project, Al Maktoum International will be tenfold in size compared to Dubai International, establishing it as the largest international airport in the world.

During the previous year, Dubai International accommodated just over 70 million passengers, marking an increase of 6.1% compared to 2013 statistics. It is projected that the airport will cater to nearly 80 million travelers during 2015, having the capacity to accommodate 100 million passengers after 7.8 billion dollars were invested for its expansion.

During 2013, the aviation sector attributed to 27% of Dubai’s GDP, a sum amounting to approximately 26.7 billion dollars. Around 416,500 people are engaged in the aviation sector, which stands for 27% of Dubai’s labor force.

It is expected that by 2030 the aviation sector will contribute just under 90 billion dollars to the emirate’s economy, a figure that is threefold the amount the sector contributed to the economy in 2013. One out of three employees will be engaged in Dubai’s aviation sector.

Statistics reveal that as many as 192 thousand passengers pass through Dubai International on a daily basis. The airport caters to 980 flights every day.

Concourse A was completed nearly two years ago, which enhanced the airport’s capacity to 75 million passengers. Nonetheless, the airport needs to expand again as due to increased amount of passengers; its capacity is approaching its limits.

Dubai plans to complete the next expansion plan during this year, by opening Concourse D.

Dubai’s vision has been in place for many decades, which is in the process of developing an aviation enterprise, home to the largest international airports, which host international leading airlines and cater to millions of passengers.