new aviation hub
The inaugural commercial flight receives the traditional maiden flight welcome on 27 June
Computer-generated image of the completed Dubai Logistics City project
The successful test run
A NUMBER of UAE, airport and freight forwarding dignitaries were on hand on Sunday 20 June when the first flight designed to test the runway and cargo facilities at the new airport touched down after its journey from Hong Kong. It was a 103-tonne payload B777 freighter operated by
local carrier Emirates SkyCargo carrying a cargo for Dubai- headquartered customer Swift Freight. “The test was an unmitigated success,” commented Ram
Menen, Emirates divisional senior vice president cargo. He noted: “The fact that the airport is connected to Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone by a bonded road, which cuts transfer times significantly, is a strong sales point.” Menen pointed out: “Although our cargo hub continues
catalyst for our next level of development as a truly global commercial, trade and logistics hub,” he added. Being built adjacent to the DWC – Al Maktoum
International airport, as an essential core feature of the whole development, is the 25 square km Dubai Logistics City (DLC), which is designed to be the world’s first truly integrated logistics platform. It will service all transport modes and provide a multitude of value-added services, including light manufacturing and assembly, in a single Customs-bonded free zone environment. Already noted as the leading regional centre for re-
export, retail, leisure, aviation, IT and banking in the Gulf region, Dubai has more than 60 percent of Middle East-bound imports transiting its borders. With a logistics market growing in size at a rate of more than 20 percent annually, Dubai is now driving even further growth through the creation of DLC to support the emirate’s market-leading position as a logistics hub for the wider Middle East and beyond. As a logistics and distribution centre able to provide a
complete range of value-added services, including light manufacturing and assembly, in a fully Customs-bonded environment, DLC is well positioned to serve a market of more than two billion potential customers stretching over an area that extends from its own Middle East catchment area to south-east Europe, into the CIS, across the Indian subcontinent and around to Africa. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, which owns and
manages the operation and development the pre-existing Dubai International facility as well as the new DWC gateway, notes the connectivity to the nearby Jebel Ali Port and the Jebel Ali Free Zone by a bonded road. This will enable fast multimodal movements, a fact he said is being acknowledged by the airlines. “We are delighted with the response from cargo operators who are seizing the opportunity,” Griffiths went on. “With 15 cargo airlines signed up, we expect that number to increase steadily over the next few months.”
26 AIR LOGISTICSCHINA Heavyweight arrival
MAXIMUS Air Cargo, the UAE’s largest all air cargo operator, was quick to try out the facilities – operating its giant 120- tonne payload AN-124 freighter into DWC within a few days of the opening in June. The flight was a significant milestone for cargo operations
at Dubai’s new airport, with Andrew Walsh, vice president cargo and logistics at Dubai Airports, noting: “Cargo operations are growing fast as the airport offers attractive commercial opportunities and is already on course to become a global cargo hub.” Maximus president and CEO Fathi Buhazza pledged his
support for the new air gateway, commenting: “We are proud of the great vision of the UAE in developing a global, commercial, trade and logistics hub that will facilitate the region’s growth.”
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.”
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