The UAE News report: Dubai International airport’s Terminal 1 and Concourse D resumed operations from June 24 after 15 months of suspension due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, welcoming flynas flight XY201 from the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.
They were closed on March 25, 2020 as part of the Dubai’s strategy to control the spread of Covid-19.
Dubai Airports operates three terminals at DXB. Terminal 1 caters to foreign carriers, T3 is dedicated for Emirates airline and T2 serves flydubai and other budget carriers.
The reopening of the facility will see the phased return of these carriers over the next few days from Terminals 2 and 3.
“This move signals our confidence that the outlook for the rest of the year and beyond is one of optimism, as well as being a clear indication of Dubai’s intent to lead the aviation industry in its efforts to enable social and economic recovery of the world,” said Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports.
“This reopening is a collaborative effort of the many stakeholders involved in the operation of the world’s largest international airport and we are delighted to be able to make this important step towards the restoration of full airport operations.”
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, earlier said 66 airlines will move to Terminal 1 and the resumption of Terminal 1 operations will create 3,500 different jobs.
Linked to Terminal 1 by an airport train, the $1.2 billion Concourse D, opened in February 2016. The facility provides world-class service levels for more than 18 million passengers annually.
Last Sunday, the airport authorties said it would reopen Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport on Thursday after a 15-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Over 40 international airlines will now gradually shift operations to the reopened terminal, the airport’s main facility for foreign airlines, from terminal 2 and 3, it said.
Terminal 1, where the airport’s Concourse D is located, has an annual passenger capacity of 18 million passengers. The airport, a major international transit hub, is capable of handling up to 100 million passengers a year.
“On June 24, 2021, the Terminal 1 and Concourse D facilities at Dubai International (DXB) will be reopening. To ensure we continue to offer a safe, smooth and easy airport journey for all our guests, we will be moving the operations of some airlines from Terminal 3 over to Terminal 1,” Dubai Airports said on its website.
The announcement comes after the Dubai government on Saturday said it was lifting a ban on those who had been in Nigeria or South Africa in the past 14 days, and direct flights from there would resume from Wednesday.
