Emirates is reminding passengers to arrive at Dubai International Airport at least three hour hours before flight departures, as it expects a record start to 2017.
The airline also urged travellers to plan extra time to get to the airport to avoid heavy traffic as it estimates about 250,000 passengers to pass through Emirates’ Dubai International Airport concourses and Terminal 3 in the first three days of the year.
The busiest travel day is expected to be on Monday, January 2, where a record number of more than 87,000 passengers will pass through Terminal 3, the airline said.
Emirates is deploying extra staff to assist customers. Passengers can physically check in at Terminal 3 as early as six hours before departing on their flight. Emirates also has car park check-in facilities, which operate around the clock at Dubai International Airport.
Last December a total of 7,053,243 passengers flocked through Dubai International — making it the airport’s second busiest month for 2015.
This year the number looks set to be even higher with the airport recording total passenger numbers of 69.3 million for the year to the end of October — a 6.8 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier.
Equipped with 16 check-in counters, customers can check-in and drop their luggage at the car park check-in facilities from 24 hours to six hours prior to departure, easing their journey through the airport during peak travel periods. All passengers must be present at the time of check-in.
Along with checked in baggage, passengers are strongly advised to adhere to carry-on baggage weight limits, which are 7kg for Economy Class and 14kg for Business and First Class. Staff will be checking the weight of carry-on bags at various touch points before passengers board their flights.
Customers are also urged to check-in online before departure, which is available 48 hours to 90 minutes before take-off. Customers who have checked in online are also required to check in their luggage 90 minutes before flight departure.
Passengers are requested to check in no later than 90 minutes prior to departure, regardless of class of travel. Customers who check in less than 60 minutes to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted. Gates in all concourses close 20 minutes prior to departure.
Emirates states check-in and gate closure timings will be strictly followed to ensure flights depart on schedule.
chnelson@thenational.ae
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