Gulf News

DWC will operate 120 World Cup flights daily

‘Match day’ shuttle service to ferry thousands of fans every day Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will operate a dedicated bus service every 30 minutes, around the clock, between DWC and Ibn Battuta Metro Station and Expo City Metro Station.

- BY DHANUSHA GOKULAN

Good news for Qatar World Cup ticket holders who are still undecided on their travel plans. As many as 120 shuttle flights will fly in and out of Dubai World Central (DWC) airport every day during the course of the tournament in Doha.

Qatar Airways and flydubai will fly several hundred thousand football fans to Doha and back to Dubai from November 20 to December 19, according to Dubai Airports. Along with the launch of ‘match day’ shuttle flights, flydubai and Qatar Airways will also operate additional charter flights connected to the event. These operations are expected to increase passenger traffic through DWC three-fold over these weeks, said Dubai Airports, operator of both Dubai Internatio­nal Airport (DXB) and DWC, adding that passenger numbers at the airport are forecast to surpass 494,000 in the year’s final three months.

Dedicated team

A dedicated front-line team will facilitate efficient processing at every service touchpoint, ensuring a consistent­ly smooth experience and on-time departures.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will operate a dedicated bus service every 30 minutes, around the clock, between DWC and Ibn Battuta Metro Station and Expo City Metro Station. RTA taxis will also be available, and travellers driving to DWC can use the airport’s 2,500-vehicle capacity car park free of charge.

If you are heading to the Fifa World Cup, then Dubai Airports has you covered. A mind-boggling 120 shuttle flights will fly in and out of Dubai World Central (DWC) airport every day during the course of the near-month long tournament in Doha.

flydubai and Qatari flag carrier Qatar Airways will fly several hundred thousand football fans to Doha and back to Dubai from November 20 to December 19, according to Dubai Airports.

Along with the launch of ‘match day’ shuttle flights, flydubai and Qatar Airways will also operate additional charter flights connected to the event. These operations are expected to increase passenger traffic through DWC three-fold over these weeks, said Dubai Airports, operator of both Dubai Internatio­nal Airport (DXB) and DWC.

Passenger numbers

“Passenger numbers at the airport are forecast to surpass 494,000 in the year’s final three months,” said Dubai Airports.

Dubai World Central, located in Dubai South, will also serve as a base for existing charter operations run by multiple internatio­nal carriers for the ongoing winter season. Dubai Airports has also announced details of transporta­tion facilities to DWC, rules for passengers, and the entire list of airport capabiliti­es to ramp up demand for travel to Doha.

Dubai Airports said the 26.5-million-passengers-perannum capacity terminal at DWC is fully operationa­l, with an array of airport services, F&B and retail outlets, and duty-free options. “A spike in demand of this magnitude would pose a challenge for any airport, but we have had some recent practice,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

Practice run

“In May-June this year, we orchestrat­ed the almost flawless temporary relocation of more than 1,000 flights a week from Dubai Internatio­nal (DXB) to DWC for the 45-day-long DXB northern runway rehabilita­tion project. “We were able to do this while managing an exceptiona­lly strong recovery throughout.”

The Dubai Airport community’s collaborat­ive spirit is strong, and will go into overdrive in the coming weeks to convert this challenge into a great opportunit­y, he added.

 ?? ?? All set for match days — Dubai World Central will see a full complement of shuttle and charter ■ flights operating to Doha through the month-long tournament
All set for match days — Dubai World Central will see a full complement of shuttle and charter ■ flights operating to Doha through the month-long tournament

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