Futuristic new £23.6billion airport to rival world’s biggest with 260million passengers and ‘ no queues’
DUBAI is currently building what will be the biggest, and possibly the most efficient, airport in the world.
Not only will it see millions of passengers through its doors – it also plans on eliminating queues altogether and will even have robot staff.
When Al Maktoum International Airport has been fully expanded and refurbished, it will be the biggest in the world – and it will have all the modcons too.
The airport which will cost £23.5billion and will serve 260million passengers every year is being designed to make travel as smooth as possible.
One of the ways it’s doing this is by creating a way that passengers won’t have to queue, which almost seems like a given in other airports.
At Al Maktoum International Airport, bags could be dropped off before travellers even reach the terminal.
Passengers will then be able to move through the airport without the usual repeated stops for the likes of security and customs.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths called this a “no red lights” concept while talking to Khaleej Times.
The airport is set to be huge, but travellers won’t have to worry about walking from one side to the other.
Instead, they will be able to use the ‘integrated underground Automated People Mover system’, which includes a multi-track train.
It will have 14 stations and will transport passengers from terminals to concourses.
It’s designed to help travellers get to their flights in the shortest and quickest route possible.
When it comes to collecting baggage, the new system will be able to process tens of thousands of bags in just one hour.
And better yet, bags are expected to be available within minutes – so there won’t be any standing about waiting for suitcases after a flight.
The airport is also going to be technologically advanced with automated travel systems, AI security check and robot staff.
The robots will be used for various tasks, including baggage handling and potentially customer service roles too.
The terminal isn’t completely new, as Al Maktoum International Airport is an expansion of Dubai World Central.
The nearby Dubai International Airport which is currently the main base in Dubai will close once the new runways are operational which is scheduled for 2032.
Al Maktoum International Airport is 23 miles south of Dubai and once fully up and running will be the largest in the world.
Currently, that title belongs to King Salman International Airport which is currently being constructed in Saudi Arabia.
In comparison Al Maktoum International Airport will be a whopping 70 square kilometres rather than 56.
It will have two passenger terminals, seven concourses and more than 430 aircraft stands.