More than 2,000 UAE residents have given their seal of approval for the newly built Concourse D at Dubai International Airport, following an initial operational readiness, activation and transition (ORAT) trial held on February 6, 2016.
The trial follows months of comprehensive tests involving staff and stakeholders, and paves the way for the opening of the new AED3.3bn (US$900m) facility, which will serve more than 70 international airlines at the newly renovated Terminal 1. When opened, the new concourse will increase the airport’s annual capacity from 75 million to 90 million passengers.
UAE residents including men, women, children, senior citizens and individuals with special needs, volunteered to play the role of passengers arriving at, departing from and transiting through Concourse D, testing wayfinding signage and the flow of passenger traffic within the new building. Trial participants also secured a first look and taste of the new retail, and food and beverage outlets featured in the concourse.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, the airport operator, said, “I would like to thank all the volunteers for taking time out on their weekend and bringing their families along to help us get the new concourse ready for opening.
“The final element of our US$7.8bn Strategic Plan 2020, Concourse D is a timely and welcome addition to Dubai International. It’s a facility designed around the needs and comfort of our customers, who will surely notice and appreciate the short walking distances to boarding gates and the accessible layout of a wide variety of world-class food and retail offerings.”
To watch a video of the ORAT trial held on February 6, 2016, click here.
