Dubai Airports has opened a new cargo operation known as Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International (DWC). The venture kicked off with inaugural flights operated by Rus Aviation, Skyline and Aerospace Consortium. Phase 1 of the project entails one A380-capable runway, 64 remote stands, cargo terminal with annual capacity of 250,000 metric tons, and a passenger terminal building designed to accommodate 5 million passengers per year. At completion, DWC will be the world's largest airport, with five runways, four terminal buildings and capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo, developers said. Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, stressed the need for a second airport in Dubai. The current facility has capacity for 2.5 million tons of cargo, he noted, while volumes are expected to increase to 3 million tons by 2015. Passenger totals through Dubai are expected to soar from 41 million in 2009 to 98 million by 2020, and 150 million by 2030. The new airport is connected to the Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone by a bonded road.

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