Dubai, Dec 24 (IANS) The sales of Dubai Duty Free shops have hit an all-time high even as the air traffic hub’s special terminal for Airbus A380 planes is set to open in early 2013.
Dubai Duty Free executive vice chairman Colm McLoughlin, who leads the airport’s retail division, said that sales have reached around 1.5 billion Emirati Dirham ($409 million), reported Xinhua.
The airport’s retail division benefits from Dubai’s growing role as a hub connecting Western and African countries with East Asia. Passenger volume from January to November has increased to 57 million up from 51 million.
In order to attract more travellers to “Fly-Buy-Dubai”, a newly-built terminal named Concourse 1, an ultra-modern terminal solely designed to cater Airbus A380 superjumbo lanes, will be operational early next year. Around 2,000 volunteers tested the new premises Dec 15 and Dec 22.
Dubai international airport aims to push up the number of passengers to over 60 million in 2013.
