Airport operator Dubai Airports is asking for volunteer UAE residents to act as passengers on February 6, 2016, in order to test the operational readiness of Dubai International Airport’s newly constructed Concourse D.
The AED1.9bn (US$517m) concourse has been designed to create a more efficient and intuitive passenger experience with short walks to connect travelers with their flights. The facility will feature open gates allowing travelers to board directly from the waiting area, giving them more freedom and time to enjoy the food and beverage outlets.
The trial is designed to simulate a live environment in order to test the systems and processes across the facility, as well as staff preparedness in typical airport operating scenarios. Some 2,500 volunteers will play the role of passengers traveling to different destinations, in order to test access, traffic flow, way-finding signage and other scenarios.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said, “As the final element of the US$7.8bn Strategic Plan 2020 that we had announced in 2011, Concourse D is a crucial and timely addition to Dubai International as it will increase the airport’s capacity to 90 million passengers.
“Our approach with launching new facilities has always been to test, test and test again, until we are confident
our passengers and airlines will receive the highest service levels upon opening. Residents of Dubai and the UAE have an opportunity to help us achieve this goal while being part of Dubai’s aviation history. If our past experiences with operational trials are anything to go by, we expect an overwhelming response from the members of the public.”
Concourse D will feature a total of nine lounges spread over 74,550ft², including five airline lounges, a new Al Majlis lounge, two Dubai International Hotel lounges and a Marhaba VIP lounge. The retail area will be spread over 90,400ft². The concourse will also feature 21 contact stands, of which four will be able to accommodate Airbus A380 or Boeing 747 aircraft, and 11 remote stands.
