The introduction of daily flights by Emirates SkyCargo and Air France-KLM over the next 12 months is expected to contribute to the continuing growth at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International. 

Emirates SkyCargo has confirmed that all dedicated freight flights will be operated from its new base at DWC when it opens in May 2014 while Air France-KLM will relocate its regional hub to the airport from August this year.

At the same time DWC will open for passenger traffic from October 27 this year when low-cost carriers Wizz Air and nasair begin flights from the airport. The airport’s passenger terminal is able to accommodate seven million passengers a year.

During the first six months of 2013, air movements rose 37 per cent to 10,237, up from 7,474 movements in the first half of 2012. For the second quarter of 2013 air movements rose 35.4 per cent to 6,133, up from 3,961 in the three months to June 2012. The jump in air movements was driven by a surge in general aviation and training flights since the start of the year.

Recent fluctuations in charter traffic have seen freight volumes at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International dip in the first six months of 2013.

Freight volumes fell 3.2 per cent to 102,929 tonnes in the first six months of the year, down from 106,333 tonnes in the same period in 2012. For the second quarter volumes fell 13 per cent to 48,955, down from 56,271 in the second quarter of 2012. The fall comes as freight volumes stabilise after the rapid growth in the first few years of cargo operations at the airport. DWC opened for freight operations in June 2010.

“The introduction of daily scheduled cargo flights by Emirates SkyCargo as well as Air France-KLM will provide a significant fillip to growth. As the airport matures we will not be able to sustain the triple-digit increases experienced in the first few years of operations but we expect volume growth to resume, albeit at a more moderate pace,” said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths.