DUBAI World Central International (JXB), set to become the world’s largest airport with the combined size of London’s Heathrow and Chicago’s O’Hare facilities, is going all out to woo global carriers to its client ranks at the Routes Forum, the world’s leading airline and airport networking event taking place in Dubai next month.
JXB will be promoted to airlines from over five continents at Routes, which runs at the Dubai World Trade Centre from September 17-19, and Dubai World Central – the huge urban aviation project of which JXB is the core – will also be in the spotlight as host of the event’s gala dinner.
“Routes is exceptionally well timed to coincide with the international industry’s planning cycle and slot application process,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman, Dubai Aviation Corporation-Dubai World Central, Government of Dubai. “This annual forum gives us the opportunity to put the Dubai World Central and JXB global hub proposition in front of a range of carriers, including network and low cost carriers, regional operators, as well as cargo and charter airlines. This is an important networking event for JXB as airports are now internationally recognised as vital to the route development process.”
Meanwhile, work continues on JXB’s first runway, due for completion in the first quarter of next year. The 4.5 km CAT III runway is designed to handle the new generation Airbus A380 aircraft and will enable JXB and DLC to commence operations as the world’s largest freighter airport and logistics hub.
DLC, together with Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone and JXB, offers a unique proposition combining all transportation modes, logistics and value-added services, such as product manufacturing and assembly, in a single-bonded free zone environment.
The $8.1 billion JXB has been designed to handle in excess of 120 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo annually.