Dubai has officially opened the first phase of the new Al-Maktoum International airport with about 17 cargo airlines set to begin operations.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, president of Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation and also chairman of Dubai Airports, says that contracts have now been signed with 17 cargo airlines that will start operating at the airport.

Currently the airport handles an average of between five and seven flights a day, but this is set to increase significantly later in the year.

Sheikh Ahmed made the comments while touring the new airport on 1 July with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

Phase one of the airport comprises one runway that is able to accommodate the Airbus A380 aircraft, a control tower and one cargo terminal that has an annual capacity of 250,000 tonnes.

Phase one also includes a passenger terminal that will be able to handle five million passengers a year. However, passenger operations will begin at the end of March 2011 once the winter schedule is complete.

Al-Maktoum International will be the largest airport in the world once it is fully complete in 2030 with five runways, four terminal buildings and will be able to handle 160 million passengers each year and 12 million tonnes of cargo.

Aviation City is the next part of Dubai World Central project to be built and Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation is planning to finance the scheme by partnering with banks (MEED 27:4:10).

With the expected increase in cargo and passenger volumes in the future, a series of investments are also under way at Dubai International airport.

Authorities are currently deciding whether to replace or expand Dubai International airport’s Terminal 2 to accommodate passenger growth.

Terminal 2 is currently used for regional operations, charter services and pilgrimage flights and has an annual capacity of three million to five million passengers.