Passenger flights set at new Dubai airport

[April 03, 2013]  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Dubai aviation officials say scheduled passenger flights will begin in October from a new airport built with the goal of becoming the world's busiest.

Dubai World Central, located about 60 kilometers (36 miles) southwest of the city's current airport, covers a vast stretch of desert and is envisioned as becoming the main hub for air travel in Dubai in coming decades. But operations have ramped up slowly since cargo flights began in 2010.

Dubai Airports said Wednesday that scheduled passenger flights are scheduled to begin Oct. 27 with nasair, which flies to various cities in Saudi Arabia, and Wizz Air, a budget airline with connections in Europe.

Dubai International Airport handled more than 56.7 million passengers last year and is now the world's second-busiest after London's Heathrow.

[Associated Press]

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