Flydubai to Lead Dubai’s Airport Shift From DXB to DWC From Early 2027

Flydubai expected to start DWC transition

Flydubai is set to lead the initial transition of airline operations from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Dubai World Central (DWC), also known as Al Maktoum International Airport, with the first aircraft potentially moving as early as next year.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said five or six Flydubai aircraft are expected to relocate from DXB to DWC during the early stages of the transition. The move is part of a broader plan to gradually shift Dubai’s aviation operations to the emirate’s new mega airport.

Speaking during an international media briefing hosted by the Dubai Media Office, Griffiths said the transition would take place gradually over several years rather than through a single large-scale relocation.

He compared the process with Hong Kong’s move from the former Kai Tak Airport to Chek Lap Kok in the late 1990s. However, he noted that Dubai’s transition would be considerably larger in scale.

“By that time, we’ll be almost six times the size of Hong Kong,” Griffiths said, explaining that Dubai’s move would therefore take considerably longer than Hong Kong’s 24-hour airport transition.

The plan is to move operations in stages over a period of months, allowing airlines and airport authorities to manage the transition without causing major disruption to passengers or flight operations.

DXB capacity expected to be exhausted

The planned relocation is closely linked to the growing capacity pressures at Dubai International Airport.

DXB has become one of the world’s busiest international aviation hubs, serving millions of passengers every year. According to Griffiths, its available capacity is expected to be largely exhausted over the coming years.

The expansion of DWC is intended to provide additional room for Dubai-based airlines, particularly Emirates and Flydubai, to continue growing.

“The whole idea is really the capacity of DXB will be exhausted pretty much over the next few years, and to give Emirates and flydubai the room to grow, they’re going to need to use that additional capacity at DWC,” Griffiths said.

As Flydubai and Emirates gradually move some operations to DWC, capacity and slots at DXB can be freed for additional expansion before other airlines eventually begin their own transition.

This means the move is not expected to result in an immediate closure or complete replacement of DXB. Instead, the two airports are expected to operate as part of a carefully managed transition for an extended period.

DWC designed for massive future growth

Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed as the centerpiece of Dubai’s long-term aviation strategy.

Griffiths said that once DWC reaches its planned capacity of 150 million passengers, all operations currently handled at Dubai International Airport are ultimately planned to move to the new airport.

The scale of the project is intended to accommodate Dubai’s expected growth in international passenger traffic and strengthen its position as a global aviation hub.

The transition will therefore extend well beyond the initial Flydubai aircraft relocation. As additional terminal capacity and infrastructure become available, more airlines and operations are expected to move to DWC.

The gradual approach is designed to ensure that the airport can expand its capacity while maintaining reliable operations throughout the transition.

Second DWC runway expected to open next year

A major milestone in the development of Al Maktoum International Airport will come with the planned opening of its second runway next year.

Griffiths said DWC will eventually have five runways once the airport is fully developed. However, only four will normally operate at the same time.

The fifth runway will serve as a standby facility, allowing the airport to maintain operational capacity if one of the other runways needs to be temporarily taken out of service.

“We will have five in total by the time the project is complete,” Griffiths said. “However, there will only be four in regular use.”

The runway strategy is intended to provide both additional capacity and operational resilience as DWC grows into one of the world’s largest airports.

Two runways will be sufficient initially

Despite the airport’s eventual five-runway configuration, DWC will not immediately need all of its planned runways.

Griffiths said two runways will be sufficient during the first phase of development and are expected to support the airport until it reaches a passenger capacity of approximately 150 million.

As passenger numbers increase and additional terminal capacity is developed, the third and fourth runways will be constructed to meet future demand.

“We’ll only need two in the first phase. That will last us to the 150 million capacity,” Griffiths said.

Once further terminal infrastructure is developed, additional runways will be brought into service.

This phased approach is intended to ensure that infrastructure investment keeps pace with actual passenger and airline demand rather than requiring the entire airport to be operational from the beginning.

Emirates and Flydubai central to the transition

Emirates and Flydubai are expected to play an important role in Dubai’s transition toward DWC.

Both airlines have substantial operations at DXB, making their gradual relocation an important component of the airport’s long-term capacity strategy.

Flydubai is expected to make the first significant move, with five or six aircraft potentially relocating to DWC as early as 2027.

The initial relocation will provide an opportunity for airport authorities and the airline to gain experience with operating flights from the new facility before the transition expands.

Additional aircraft and operations could then be moved progressively as DWC’s infrastructure and passenger facilities expand.

For passengers, the transition is expected to be managed in stages, with airport authorities seeking to minimize disruption and ensure that airline schedules remain reliable.

Dubai’s long-term aviation strategy

The move from DXB to DWC represents one of the largest planned changes to Dubai’s aviation infrastructure.

DXB has played a central role in Dubai’s development as a global business, tourism and transportation hub. However, the airport’s location and capacity constraints make long-term expansion increasingly difficult.

DWC, by contrast, has been designed around the expectation of continued growth in passenger traffic and aircraft movements.

The new airport’s larger footprint allows Dubai to plan additional terminals, runways and supporting infrastructure over multiple development phases.

The ultimate objective is to create an airport capable of handling significantly larger volumes of international traffic while providing airlines with additional room to expand.

A transition that will take years

Although Flydubai could begin moving aircraft to DWC as early as next year, the complete transition from DXB will not happen quickly.

Griffiths emphasized that Dubai’s airport relocation will be staged over an extended period. The timing will depend on the availability of new terminal capacity, runway infrastructure and the ability of airlines to transfer their operations smoothly.

Once DWC reaches its planned 150 million-passenger capacity, the longer-term plan calls for all of DXB’s operations to be transferred to the new airport.

The eventual five-runway configuration is expected to provide additional flexibility as passenger demand increases. Four runways will normally be used, while the fifth will remain available as a standby runway.

For now, the focus is on preparing DWC for its next stage of development and beginning the transition with Flydubai.

If the planned timeline remains on track, the relocation of five or six Flydubai aircraft in 2027 will mark the beginning of a much larger transformation in Dubai’s aviation landscape—one that could eventually see the world’s major airlines operating from Al Maktoum International Airport instead of Dubai International Airport.