Al Maktoum International Airport to open second runway in 2027

Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) will open a second runway in 2027, marking a "new milestone", confirmed Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, adding that it will eventually have five runways once fully completed with capacity for up to 260 million passengers a year.

In a briefing, he noted that the first phase of the airport will open in the early 2030, with a projected capacity of 150 million passengers.

Griffiths added that flydubai will be one of the first airlines to move its operations to DWC, with around five to six aircraft to be moved starting from 2027.

Talking about the recovery following regional disruptions, he said DXB has recorded a 26 per cent growth in passenger traffic between June and July, despite a drop to 2.5 million travellers in March. Griffiths said capacity has now recovered to 84 per cent of pre-conflict levels while customer numbers are back to 78 per cent.

The airport still forecasts passenger traffic to hit 70 million by the end of the year, with the goal of achieving 100 million passengers in 2027. 

During the conflict, Griffiths said the airport had received 111 alerts and 17 ballistic missile strikes, with no deaths reported.

He also touched upon the potential use of DXB after the full transition to DWC.