Dubai Airports’ Chairman HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum reports that Dubai Duty Free’s 175 vendor installations within its Concourse D retail offer were ‘positively received’ in the first year of the 7,000sq m terminal’s fist year, as part of the overall retail area covering 33,000sq m.

 

HH Sheikh Ahmed, who is also President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group marked the one-year anniversary of the facility today as he also pointed to 16.6m passengers using the terminal.

 

Airport management points to Concourse D as representing the final ‘major piece of infrastructure’ to be built at DXB as part of the $7.8bn Strategic Plan 2020 programme and it adds that it has proved to be a timely addition to the airport when it first opened its doors for passengers on February 24, 2016.

 

NOW HOUSING 60 AIRLINES…

The $1.2bn (Dhms.4bn) facility is now home to 60 international airlines operating into DXB’s Terminal 1, connecting it with 90 destinations around the world. Crucially, the facility also raised the airport’s annual passenger capacity from 75m to 90m.

 

Commenting, HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “Concourse D is the outcome of a well-designed and meticulously-planned project that was built around the evolving needs and expectations of our customers – the hundreds of thousands of passengers that pass through our airport every day.

 

 

CONCOURSE D: 115,118 FLIGHTS IN 2016

“After a successful first year of operations, it is very clear that Concourse D has achieved its goal of delighting our passengers and our business partners.”

 

Dubai Airports adds that the Concourse has handled 115,118 flights and welcomed an estimated 16,686,272 passengers from destinations across six continents, while setting new standards in customer service.

 

Airport management added: “Over the past year Concourse D has exemplified Dubai Airports’ commercial strategy to design and deliver an integrated environment featuring walk-through retail, adjacent food and hospitality concepts, a comfortable central atrium and investment in the world’s best airport Wi-Fi.

 

SHOWCASE VENUE FOR EVENTS

“It has also been a showcase for Dubai Airports’ special events, having hosted numerous musicDXB performances and Hang Out DXB engagements, designed to surprise and delight passengers with prize giveaways, special discounts and interactive games – all of which serve to heighten the customer experience.

 

“The new Concourse has delivered an upgraded lounge experience with nine lounges spread over 6,926sq m, including five airline lounges (British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, SkyTeam) a new Al Majlis lounge, two Dubai International Hotel lounges and a Marhaba VIP lounge.

 

It also houses more than 3,600sq m of food and beverage options that cater ‘to all tastes and budgets’.