Dubai International Emirates Terminal 3 Welcomes 50 Millionth Passenger
Dubai, UAE – September 7, 2010 –In the celebratory spirit of the imminent Islamic festival ofEid Al Fitr, Dubai Airports, Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free (DDF) today welcomed the 50 millionth passenger to pass through the world’s largest airport terminal, Dubai International Emirates Terminal 3.
Parvez Khan, an assistant manager with a hotel in Dubai and a resident of Ajman, was greeted at check-in by a delegation of Dubai aviation executives including Jamal Al Hai, Dubai Airports Senior Vice President, Strategy & Development, Chris Garton, Dubai Airports Senior Vice President Operations, Mohammed Mattar, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Airport Services and Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and presented with a certificate for 50,000 Skywards miles and DDF shopping vouchers worth AED 5,000 to mark the occasion.
Parvez was accompanied by his wife Josephine and their six-year-old son Sahil. “This is just so exciting! It’s doubly surprising given the fact that I am seeing Terminal 3 for the very first time and it will also be my first time flying Emirates. The timing couldn’t have been better, as we are flying home to Mumbai for Eid,” said Parvez.
“I am truly overwhelmed by the warm welcome and the special attention” he added.
“Each customer is special but welcoming the 50 millionth passenger to this terminal in less than two years of operation is an important milestone and testament not only to incredible traffic growth but also Dubai’s commitment to deliver world-class service at a world-class aviation facility,” said Al Hai.
Dubai International Emirates Terminal 3 first opened its doors on October 14, 2008 for the exclusive use of Emirates Airline. Since opening, Emirates Terminal 3 has handled more than 197,920 flight movements (departures and arrivals), 50 million passengers and some 70 million pieces of luggage. The terminal is the world’s largest yet its unique design coupled with state-of-the-art people transportation solutions such as travelators effectively shorten the distance from kerbside to the aircraft. Currently some 85,000 passengers pass through this terminal every day, and that number continues to grow.
“Emirates Terminal 3 is our hub and an incredibly important element our overall service proposition. The 50 millionth passenger to pass through Emirates Terminal 3 is a pivotal moment and testament to our corporate values that see our passengers enjoy ease of travel, home comforts and refined luxuries both in the air and on the ground,” said Emirates’ Mattar,
“We are committed to making the time spent in Terminal 3 as pleasant a retail experience as possible,” said McLoughlin whose organisation, Dubai Duty Free, operates 8,000 square metres of retail space in Terminal 3. “Passengers seem to be responding positively as over 50 per cent of our total revenue is generated in Terminal 3."
The impressive traffic growth at Dubai International is set to continue with annual passenger numbers expected to exceed 46 million during 2010, up 13.6 per cent from the 40.9 million recorded last year. Dubai Airports’ long term forecast projects passenger numbers will top 98 million by 2020. To help accommodate the anticipated traffic growth, the construction of Concourse 3, set to become the world’s first dedicated A 380 facility, continues apace. The facility is scheduled to open at the end of 2012.