Flydubai Prepares to Shift Flights to Al Maktoum Airport
Flydubai transfers flights to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) due to capacity constraints of Dubai International Airport (DXB). DXB requires room to expand the traffic. DWC provides a colossal growth prospect to the Dubai aviation industry. To sustain the momentum of growth, Flydubai has been using a dual-airport strategy. The move comes in line with a key national strategy of moving all key operations to the new facility.
What is the capacity situation at Dubai International Airport (DXB)?
The air traffic that DXB is dealing with is unsustainable. The information from Dubai Airports proves that such a significant change is necessary. The present infrastructure in the airports restricts further growth. The capacity of DXB is at its limit of about 115 million passengers per annum. This is the maximum that passenger traffic will reach by the end of 2031. Such a capacity limit compels airlines to find new hubs. This alleviates the pressure on the runways and terminals at DXB by Flydubai.
What is the current number of passengers served by DXB?
DXB has a growth potential of over 100 million passengers every year in the next two years. It is estimated that there will be 95.3 million passengers by the year 2025. These figures are broken records. The large traffic necessitates the shift to DWC to continue playing the global aviation hub in Dubai.
What is the scope of the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) expansion?
Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is a massive infrastructural project. The growth makes DWC the largest-capacity airport in the world. The government of Dubai passed the proposal to cost Dh128 billion which translates to approximately $35 billion.
What is the last capacity and size of DWC?
The DWC facility which has been completed, can accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually. This increases its capacity more than that of DXB. The area occupied by DWC is approximately 70 square kilometers. This area puts DWC approximately five times bigger than the existing DXB location. The design has five parallel runways and approximately 400 aircraft gates. DWC is designed by Dubai to handle the next-generation air and logistics traffic over the next 50 years.
When will the main shift of operations to DWC take place?
All the operations will be mainly shifted to DWC by 2032. The date will be the beginning of a new aviation era in Dubai. The change is done in phases. New capacity to DWC is slowly drawing away routes by airlines. Dubai Airports promotes such a gradual migration. Flydubai is among the earliest major airlines that are anticipated to have DWC as a permanent base.
Has flydubai been based at DWC previously?
Yes, flydubai used to work out of DWC in the past. The airline used DWC on interim operations. An example of this is flydubai shifting flights to DWC to the DXB runway refurbishment, which was in the south, in 2019. This was a temporary change in 39 destinations of the airline. DWC was also utilized by Flydubai in the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. All these previous experiences reveal that Flydubai can effectively use both airports.
How does the shift affect flydubai’s future operations?
The transition is in line with the strategic growth objectives of flydubai. The airline has a constantly expanding destinations network of more than 135. Flydubai is planning to divide its operations between the two airports. The CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, affirmed that there would be two operations. One of the operations is DXB-based and the other is DWC-based. This two-hub design offers flexibility and the ability as the fleet of the airline grows.
What are the fleet expansion strategies of flydubai?
Flydubai expands its fleet of Boeing 737. The company has 95 aircraft in its present fleet. This figure comprises 65 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 3 Boeing 737 MAX 9. The backlog of orders of the airline is more than 130 737 MAXs. Flydubai also anticipates receiving new Boeing 787 Dreamliners at the outset in 2026. The maintenance and operation of this increasing fleet is done in the new DWC facilities. In 2025, Flydubai started the construction of a new maintenance center in Dubai South near the location of DWC. The size of this maintenance center is more than 32,600 square meters.
What benefits does DWC offer to the wider Dubai economy?
The DWC expansion has five major economic advantages for Dubai:
- Cargo and Logistics Integration: DWC combines air and sea cargo. The Dubai South location is connected with a logistic international logistics centre. This design saves money and turnaround time for the cargo operators.
- Economic Diversification: An increased airport generates increased business and tourism. The new hub is an upgrade in the hosting of global events in Dubai. It helps the UAE plan to lessen its dependence on oil in the economy.
- New Job Creation: The project has a high number of jobs created. The planners project that the larger Dubai South territory can accommodate a huge population and employment. The new maintenance center of Flydubai alone employs more than 600 engineers.
- Urban Congestion Relief: DWC will help reduce congestion in DXB by transferring large traffic volumes. The position of DXB is in the city centre. The move spreads the road and transport traffic within the city.
- Contemporary Infrastructure: DWC uses modern technology. It incorporates new air traffic control and simplified passenger processing. Its design is based on smart infrastructure and automation that is sustainable.
What must passengers know about the flydubai shift?
Passengers have to verify their booking details with respect to the departure airport. The change is a gradual transformation. Flydubai applies the Al Maktoum International Airport code of DWC. It works with DXB in the case of Dubai International. Connections between the two airports require passengers more time. The shortest time of connection between DWC and DXB is 4 hours. In order to travel between the two airports, passengers have to clear customs and immigration.
What is the travel time impact of the DWC access?
DWC is located in Jebel Ali, approximately 70 kilometers from DXB. The site is more remote from central Dubai. The new DWC terminals are opening new road, bus and metro connections. The passengers ought to budget their time to the airport. It is served by private cars and taxis, as well as public buses. Ibn Battuta Mall is the closest metro station. Moreover, this station is linked with an airport by bus or taxi.
How does the DWC project ensure Dubai’s future aviation growth?
The DWC project is sure to secure the future aviation development of Dubai due to the removal of the capacity restrictions. The growth gives a roadmap towards a long-term hub. The 35 billion dollar investment makes Dubai one of the major international gateways. The airport supports global-scale business and travel and logistics up to the 2050s. According to the Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, the transition will facilitate smooth travelling to the next generation. The relocation renders DWC the new centre of the air network in Dubai. This is a large-scale plan that meets the present and future needs of international travel.
