Dubai Int'l's runway upgrades likely to cause operational changes

Flydubai and Emirates will be forced to reduce their services between May 1 and July 20 next year owing to necessary upgrade works to the northern and second runways at Dubai Int'l. 

According to the Dubai Airport, Airlines will be required to reduce their operations at Dubai International as a result of the anticipated 28% drop in capacity expected over the 80-day repair period. 

According to the Gulf News, a Dubai Airport spokesperson said an independent slot coordinator has already conducted a study into the impact on operations with the findings having been presented to airlines earlier this year. 

Non-base airlines with multiple daily frequencies could face a 50% reduction in their schedule due to the works. "Airlines with a single daily operation will be protected as much as possible, however this cannot be guaranteed," the spokesperson said. 

A purported letter from the airport firm includes plans for Emirates and flydubai to cut their total combined services by 22 percent. 

The LCC's CEO, Gaith AL Gaith, is quoted as saying his airline was still assessing whether or not they would operate some of their flights during the period from Dubai World Central instead. 

While various changes to Emirates' timetable during the 80-day period have already been noted, the airline has yet to officially comment on them. Qantas, which operates four daily flights via the Gulf airport, has said that even with the runway works still nine months away, it plans to have its slot allocation finalised "in the next few weeks."

Source: CH-Aviation