Dubai Airports and Emirates have completed the phased launch of Concourse A, the world’s first purpose-built facility for the A380 at Dubai International.
All 20 A380-capable contact gates and Emirates’ First Class and Business Class lounges, which comprise 29,000 square metres of the facility, are now fully operational after a five-week-long phase-in period.
“The full opening of Concourse A is a significant milestone and achievement in supporting and enabling the continued growth of Emirates, and our focus and commitment to being a leader in offering our customers innovative products and services that provides them with an unsurpassed travel experience,” said Tim Clark, President of Emirates.
“With a current fleet of 31 A380s and a further 59 on order, Emirates is the largest operator of this aircraft in the world, and it is only fitting that we have a world-class facility that meets this need and represents our leadership in this regard.”
With 11 floors and a total built-up area of 528,000 sq m, Concourse A is connected to Concourse B and Terminal 3 via an underground train. The First Class and Business Class lounges have dedicated floors that offer direct access to aircraft boarding gates.
The lounges, which extend the entire length of the concourse, feature kitchens, conference rooms, business centres, a Timeless Spa, entertainment zones, dedicated smoking areas as well as children’s play areas. The First Class lounge passengers also have a dedicated duty free shopping area and a Le Clos wine cellar.
In addition there is a variety of food and beverage brands which include Paul, Umaizushi Bistro, Picnic, Wafi Gourmet, Carluccio’s, Cho Gao, Pulp Juice Bar, McDonalds and McCafe, Shake Shack, Costa Metropolitan, Starbucks, Le Pain Quotidien, Giraffe, Heineken Lounge, Jack’s Bar & Grill and Moet & Chandon Champagne Bar.
“Much like the opening of Terminal 3 in 2008, the phase-in of Concourse A has resulted in the seamless introduction of world-class infrastructure that responds to the rapid growth of Emirates and caters to the needs of its discerning and truly global customer base,” said Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive of Dubai Airports.
“Concourse A is a vital element of our $7.8 billion investment in the continued expansion of Dubai International, which will see it become the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic by the end of 2015.”
Concourse A is part of the Terminal 3 complex built for the use of Emirates, from where its passengers can travel to its network of 21 A380 destinations across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. It is expected to boost capacity at Dubai International from 60 million to 75 million passengers per year. A vital part of Dubai Airports’ $7.8 billion Strategic Plan 2020, it will increase airport capacity to 90 million by 2018.
