Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International airport officially began operations on June 27 after the new airport passed a series of operational tests conducted during its first ‘live’ flight.

An Emirates SkyCargo B777 freighter operating Hong Kong-Dubai touched down in the afternoon amid cheers from enthusiastic stakeholders and dignitaries on hand to observe the historic occasion.

“This is an important milestone, not only for the airport’s certification process, but as another step towards achieving Dubai’s vision to become the pre-eminent centre for aviation worldwide,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai Airports.

Phase 1 of the airport will feature one A380-capable runway, 64 remote stands, one cargo terminal with annual capacity for 250,000 tonnes of cargo and a passenger terminal building designed to accommodate five million passengers per year. The facility will initially open for cargo carriers, with passenger operations slated to start next March.The project has run 18 months behind its initial schedule, with authorities saying the permit process took longer than expected, but those familiar with the project cite construction delays at the airport and extra time needed for the development of a 10km bonded highway connecting the Jebel Ali seaport with the airport.

When completed, Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will be the largest airport in the world with five runways, four terminal buildings and capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo. The facility opens initially for cargo carriers, with passenger operations currently slated to start up at the end of March 2011 in concert with the IATA schedule change.

“The test was an unmitigated success not only for Emirates SkyCargo, but most importantly for our customer Swift Freight,” said Ram Menen, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo. “The fact that the airport is connected to Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone by a bonded road which cuts transfer times significantly is a strong sales point.

“Although our cargo hub continues to be Dubai International, there is no doubt that Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will play an increasingly important role – initially for spot cargo operations driven by customer need and eventually for scheduled freighter services.”

In the short term Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International will increase the airport capacity of Dubai to accommodate the 48 per cent increase in cargo volumes from 1.9 to 3 million tonnes that is anticipated by 2015. In the long term it will serve as a multi-modal logistics hub for 12 million tonnes of freight and a global gateway for the 150 million passengers per annum that are expected to pass through Dubai by 2030.