Travellers Vote Dubai International As Middle East’s Best Airport

Dubai International has been voted as the Middle East’s best airport by readers of Business Traveller, the internationally acclaimed travel magazine, in a survey for 2009. The readers also voted Dubai International as the Best Airport in the Middle East for Duty Free Shopping.

The award in the best airport category is given based on excellence in delivery of customer service, particularly in areas such as baggage delivery, check-in, and frontline services. Airport facilities and duty-free shopping are some of the major factors that play a role in the voting for the awards. Survey forms are included in Business Traveller magazine and sent to all regional subscribers, a large percentage of which turns them in with their choice.

In the world’s best airport category, Dubai International finished second only to Singapore’s Changi Airport, the winner this year.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Dubai International has won the region’s best airport award. Dubai International has won over 14 regional and international awards between 2008 and 2009 – nearly triple the number of awards in the preceding year, and the highest in a year to date.

"At Dubai Airports, we aspire to be the world’s best airport in every sense, but most of all in the quality of our customer service. While all awards and recognitions evoke a sense of pride at Dubai Airports, the Business Traveller Award is truly special because it is the travellers – our customers, who choose the winner. Winning this award tells us that our efforts at continually enhancing our customer service are making a difference, and that we are headed in the right direction," said, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

The annual awards ceremony was held at the Godolphin Ballroom, Emirates Towers on May 4, on the eve of the Arabian Travel Market 2009. Griffiths received the award on behalf of Dubai Airports from the guest of honour Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Head of easyGroup – best known for creating the low cost airline easyJet in 1995.

Dubai International’s Terminal 2 Undergoes Major Refurbishment

Terminal 2 at Dubai International has undergone a major refurbishment, extending check-in and boarding facilities, revitalising the interior and exterior décor, plus offering more dining choices, to give customers an enhanced travelling experience.

Currently serving more than 25 scheduled airlines, the extended facility will increase capacity from three to some five million passengers a year.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, commented: “Terminal 2 has seen tremendous growth over the past decade of its operation, due to its popularity as a convenient and flexible gateway for customers travelling into and out of Dubai.

“This make-over has given a fantastic boost to the facility, a new lease of life and a freshness that’s sure to give us a thumbs-up in terms of customer satisfaction and comfort.”

The terminal building now boasts a bold red façade, with clearly defined entrances for Arrivals and Departures and a wide drop-off area running between the terminal and the extensive covered car parking beyond.

Queuing time has speeded up for departing passengers with the extension of the Check-in area where counters have increased from 22 to 36.

The Boarding section has been transformed into a spacious and comfortable seating area, lit by natural light, with a Marhaba Lounge and children’s play area opening shortly. The new open boarding gates allow several flights to board simultaneously, considerably improving both passenger and aircraft movement.

Passengers can choose from a range of dining options, including the Hatam Iranian Restaurant, McDonald’s, Costa Coffee, Baskin Robbins Ice-cream and Tropicana Juice bar. The Dubai Duty Free shopping area covers 1,400 square metres in Departures and 50 square metres in Arrivals and carries a wide range of international brands.

The 3, 437 square metre extension includes a larger Arrivals hall where the finishing touches are being put to new counters for car rental and currency exchange outlets.

For transiting passengers, a shuttle service runs between the terminals, with a journey time of 20 minutes approximately to Terminal 1 and 30 minutes to Terminal 3.

“Terminal 2’s location at the north side of the airfield at Dubai International helps to give the impression of an ‘airport within an airport’, with its main road access, generous covered car parking and user-friendly terminal,” added Mr Griffiths. “I am confident that the revitalised décor and comfortable surroundings, along with the extended facilities will encourage more airlines to use Terminal 2.”