Updated: December 17, 2012, 12:00 AM
In pictures: A sneak peek at Dubai's new A380 concourse
Provided photo of the new A380 concourse at the Dubai Airport. They had a test run with 1,100 volunteer members of the public spending the day there testing out the systems and procedures. This is the worldÕs first concourse designed specially for the A380 superjumbo NO CREDIT
The trial was designed to detect flaws or problems, improve customer service and enable staff to become more familiar with the new building
They tested the effectiveness of signs, travelled on the train from Terminal 3 to the concourse, browsed in shops and sampled restaurants.
Saturday’s test-drive was intended to check the readiness of the staff, systems and procedures. It followed a number of preliminary exercises involving airport employees.
The train line from Terminal 3 to the concourse. One volunteer described the train on Twitter as “lovely� and said Dubai had given the A380 “one beautiful new home�.
Provided photo of the new A380 concourse at Dubai airport It's the world�s first concourse designed specially for the A380 Courtesy Dubai Aiports
Provided photo of the new A380 concourse at Dubai airport It's the world�s first concourse designed specially for the A380 Courtesy Dubai Aiports
“Before opening it is imperative that we are diligent in testing every aspect of the passenger experience across the new facility,� said Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports.
The new building, officially known as Concourse A, is part of the Terminal 3 complex used exclusively by Emirates Airline.
It is the world’s first facility purpose-built for the A380 superjumbo and will increase the airport’s capacity from 60 million to 75 million passengers per year.
Concourse A is due to open early next year.