Dubai’s Terminal 3 to launch

The new Emirates-occupied Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport will open on October 14, with a phased launch starting with flights to the Americas and GCC destinations. Emirates Terminal 3 will have a capacity for 43 million passengers once fully operational, but the initial launch will involve flights to Doha, Muscat, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jeddah, Damman and Riyadh in the GCC, along with New York, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo and Toronto in the Americas. Phase 2, which as yet does not have a launch date, will add flights to the Middle East and Africa, while Europe, the Indian Subcontinent, Asia and Australia will be added in later phases. Features of the new facility include check-in counters within the terminal car park, allowing passengers to check in well in advance of their flight, return home, and then arrive back at the terminal for their departure. There are 60 self-service check-in kiosks in the terminal, 126 manned economy counters, 32 for Business and First, and 10 for Skywards premium members, as well as dedicated lounges for children travelling alone and for those requiring special assistance. The 4,800 sqm of retail space in Terminal 3 includes 10 food outlets, while the adjoining Concourse 2 houses 670,000sqm of lounges, retail outlets, spas, 14 restaurants, two hotels, and the 26 departure gates, five of which have been built to accept the Airbus A380. For more information, visit www.emirates.com, www.dubaiairport.com. Mark Caswell