50 millionth passenger at Terminal 3

Dubai Airports, Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free (DDF) on Tuesday welcomed the 50 millionth passenger to pass through the world's largest airport terminal, Dubai International Emirates Terminal 3.

Parvez Khan, an assistant manager with a hotel in Dubai and a resident of Ajman, was greeted at check-in by a delegation of Dubai aviation executives.

Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free,  presented the passenger with a certificate for 50,000 Skywards miles and DDF shopping vouchers worth Dh5,000 to mark the occasion.

The delegation included Jamal Al Hai, Dubai Airports Senior Vice President, Strategy & Development, Chris Garton, Dubai Airports Senior Vice President Operations, Mohammed Mattar, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Airport Services.

"Each customer is special but welcoming the 50 millionth passenger to this terminal in less than two years of operation is an important milestone and testament not only to incredible traffic growth but also Dubai's commitment to deliver world-class service at a world-class aviation facility," said Al Hai.

Dubai International Emirates Terminal 3 first opened its doors on October 14, 2008 for the exclusive use of Emirates. Since opening, Emirates Terminal 3 has handled more than 197,920 flight movements (departures and arrivals), 50 million passengers and some 70 million pieces of luggage.

The impressive traffic growth at Dubai International is set to continue with annual passenger numbers expected to exceed 46 million during 2010, up 13.6 per cent from the 40.9 million recorded last year. Dubai Airports' long term forecast projects passenger numbers will top 98 million by 2020. To help accommodate the anticipated traffic growth, the construction of Concourse 3, set to become the world's first dedicated A 380 facility, continues apace. The facility is scheduled to open at the end of 2012.

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