07/07/2011 | C. Martin
Airports in Dubai are set to undergo major expansion to accommodate the growing volumes of passenger traffic.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of the emirate, has sanctioned $7.8 billion (£4.8 billion) for projects to improve facilities at the airports.
Dubai International, the base of carrier Emirates, is set to increase its annual capacity from 60 million travellers currently to 75 million, and build a Concourse 3 for the airline's Airbus A380 planes next year.
A resurgence in the popularity of Dubai holidays and the growth of the city as a key hub for travellers between Asia and the US and Europe, drove a 15.4% growth in passenger traffic at the airport last year.
In 2010 it handled 47.2 million travellers and by the first quarter of 2011 it was the world's third busiest airport, after London Heathrow and Hong Kong, for international passengers.
The airport is hoping to boost its capacity steadily to 90 million by 2018.
Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, which manages Dubai International, said there are also plans to construct a Concourse 4 beside the existing Terminal 1 by 2015.
Copyright Press Association 2011