More airlines expected to move to Dubai World Central

Leaders at Dubai Airports have confirmed that talks are ongoing with a number of airlines with a view to bringing more services to the new Dubai World Central (DWC) Airport.Chief executive officer at the organisation Paul Griffiths told Arabian Business that a “stampede” of carriers are expected to move into the facility.DWC only opened in 2010 and has been used solely to transport cargo thus far, although the airport has now been redeveloped to enable it to accommodate passengers.The aviation complex will take some of the strain off the city's main airport – Dubai International – which seems to get busier every year. Indeed, 66 million people are predicted to fly into the facility in 2013.Mr Griffiths thinks that as soon as one or two airlines have committed to providing services from DWC, others will follow.”We're talking to a great number of airlines but airlines really don't like being the first mover and when you see an airline go in and be successful, then you'll find that we're overtaken by a complete stampede of airlines wanting to be there,” he was quoted as saying.”I'm hopeful that over the next few months we will be announcing some more carriers will be operating from DWC.”The airport's cargo operations have been very successful to date, so much so that March 2013 was a record month for freight volumes.Mr Griffiths believes this will encourage airlines to use the airport for passenger services and he hopes tens of thousands of people will pass through DWC in its first year of operation.Meanwhile, work to extend Dubai International Airport is ongoing and plans are in place to raise the annual capacity to 90 million people in the coming years.Dubai Airports recently revealed details of an 80-day project that will see the facility's runways given a new lease of life.The organisation said the work – which will begin in May 2014 – is vital if the ambitious expansion targets are to be achieved. Taylor Scott International