Dubai World Central (DWC)

Dubai World Central (DWC) 

Dubai World Central (DWC), Dubai’s second airport and the world’s future hub in the making, is currently served by 16 passenger airlines operating an average of 160 weekly flights to 37 international destinations. It is also home to 20 cargo operators that fly to as many as 43 cities around the world.

A major expansion of the airport was completed in 2018 increasing its annual capacity from 5 million passengers to 26.5 million. The expansion was perfectly timed as the facility is estimated to witness a 700% hike in flight activity during the closure of Dubai International’s southern runway for refurbishment from April 16 to May 30.

TRAFFIC

DWC Passenger Traffic 2019

• Dubai World Central (DWC) welcomed a total of 1.3 million passengers in the first nine months of 2019, up 99.4%, mainly resulting from the launch of temporary operations by new airlines during a 45-day closure of one of DXB’s two runways for rehabilitation.
• A total of 28,078 flights took off or landed at DWC in the first nine months of 2019 (28.7% YoY).
  

DWC Cargo Traffic 2019

• DWC moved a total of 676,830 tonnes of freight in the first nine months, a year on year decline of -7.2%.
• DWC is served by 16 passenger airlines operating an average of 160 weekly flights to 37 international destinations. It is also home to 20 cargo operators that fly to as many as 43 cities around the world.

2018 Traffic

• Passenger traffic at DWC totalled 900,202 passengers in 2019, down 0.5% compared to 2017.
   
• DWC handled 987,986 tonnes of cargo in 2018 a year on year increase of 1.6% compared to 972,295 tonnes recorded during the same period in 2017.
   
• There were 29,959 flight movements at DWC in 2018, down 12.4% as compared to 2017.

Expansion of Existing Passenger Terminal
 

• A project to expand the passenger terminal at DWC to accommodate 26 million passengers per annum by 2018 was started in 2015 and completed late last year. 

• The check-in area, baggage and immigration halls, and security screening areas were expanded while the forecourt was enhanced to ensure easier access to parking and drop-off areas.

• The passenger terminal now provides a total of 24 boarding gates, 7 baggage reclaim carousels and 104 check-in desks.

Expansion Quick Facts

• Capacity – 26.5 million 
• Baggage carousels - 7 (up from 4)
• Arrivals immigration counters – 40 (up from 16)
• Arrivals smart gates – 5 (up from 4 but space for 20)
• Check-in desks – 90 + 4 OOG (up from 40 + 2 OOG)
• Business class check-in – 10 (new)
• Total check-in – 104 (up from 42)
• Departure boarding gates – 24 (up from 12)
• Baggage system – 80 chutes, 8 transfers, 4,000 EBS, 6,000 bags per hour (up from 4 make-up carousels, 1 transfer line 0 EBS)
• Avg of 13 minutes for each bag through BHS
• Hammerhead – new facility, 12 boarding gates, Business class lounge/boarding
• Parking – 2,542 (up from 759)
• Area of PTB – 144,000 sqm
• Remote a/c stands –  98 – largest in the world (up from 69)  
• Expanded taxi/limo staging area and pick up/drop off

History

DWC opened its doors to passengers on October 27, 2013 with Wizz Air as the launch airline. Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways launched services from October 31, 2013 while Gulf Air commenced flights from December 8, 2013.

DWC welcomed the launch of flydubai’s operations with the arrival of their first flight on October 25, 2015. The airline will operate services to a number of destinations from DWC as it continues its operations from Dubai International. 

Dubai Airports launched cargo operations at DWC on June 27, 2010 as part of the first phase of the project. 

Traffic 2017

• DWC welcomed 904,940 passengers in 2017, up 6.4% compared to 850,633 passengers recorded in 2016. 
• Aircraft movements at DWC totalled 34,198, down 11.6% over the 29,380* movements recorded in 2016. 
• DWC handled 972,295 tonnes of freight in 2017, up 8.3% compared to 897,998 tonnes recorded during 2016.
• DWC is served by four passenger carriers operating over 74 flights weekly to 18 international destinations.
• DWC is home to 23 scheduled cargo operators that fly to as many as 68 destinations around the world.

 Traffic 2016

• DWC welcomed a total of 850,633 passengers in 2016, up 84.5 per cent compared to 461,063 passengers recorded in 2015.
• Air freight volumes at DWC showed a slight increase during 2016 with 897,998 tonnes, up 0.8 per cent compared to 890,912 tonnes during 2015.
• DWC handled a total of 38,671 aircraft movements in 2016, a contraction of 5.6 per cent compared to 2015 when the airport recorded 40,947 movements.

 Traffic 2015/14

• DWC handled 888,714 tonnes of freight in 2015, up 7.7 per cent from 824,933 tonnes recorded during 2014. 
• DWC welcomed 463,236 passengers during 2015, a contraction of -45.2 per cent compared to 845,046 recorded during the corresponding period in 2014.
• The slump is due to the surge in volumes created by the temporary relocation of 300 weekly flights while the runway refurbishment programme was conducted at Dubai International in 2014.
• Aircraft movements in 2015 totalled 42,055 compared to 47,655 movements during the same period last year, a decrease of 11.8 per cent.

TRAFFIC 2014/2013

• DWC handled 758,371 tonnes of freight in 2014, a sharp increase of 262.5 per cent from 209,209 tonnes recorded during 2013. The spike is fuelled mainly by the completion of the shift of all pure cargo flight, including Emirates SkyCargo, from DXB to DWC in May 2014.
   
• Annual passenger traffic in 2014 totalled 845,046 because of temporary flights operated by some passenger airlines during the runway upgrade project at DXB between May 1 and July 2014.

• The increased activity in passenger and freight operations at DWC propelled the number of annual aircraft movements by 91.6 per cent to 47,655 compared to 24,871 during 2013. The airport recorded 11,687 aircraft movements during the fourth quarter, up 47 per cent compared to 7,948 during the corresponding period in 2013.
   
• DWC handled 219,092 tonnes of air freight during 2012 – its second full calendar year of operations, an increase of 144 per cent over 89,729 tonnes recorded in 2011.

GA/FUTURE

Dubai Airports launched general aviation operations at DWC on April 28, 2011 with the first flight from launch customer Al Futtaim Services Company. The launch of operations followed the General Civil Aviation Authority’s regulatory approval for the facility on February 24, 2011.

DWC forms the heart of a 140sq km multiphase development of six clustered zones. The development is the region’s first integrated, multi-modal transportation platform connecting air, sea, and land.