In the US, all routes except LAX, SFO, SEA, IAH, and EWR seem to be getting reductions. Many more destinations around the world too.

Generally for US flights, 1/7 of flights will be dropped.

https://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com ... eductions/

I guess those A380 come in Handy now and will be utilized to the Maximum can we already see if there utilization rates will be increased?

so what´s new, same as 2 years ago.....?

Does DXB replace it's runway surface more often than other busy major hubs ?

JannEejit wrote:

Does DXB replace it's runway surface more often than other busy major hubs ?

Seems only logical with hot temperatures, frequent usage and likely the on average heaviest planes of any major hub.

devron wrote:

I guess those A380 come in Handy now and will be utilized to the Maximum can we already see if there utilization rates will be increased?

I don't think any route will get upgauge to A380.

Actually I though they could have operated some flights from DWC, maybe that will create more problems than the one it solves.

Jetty wrote:

Seems only logical with hot temperatures, frequent usage and likely the on average heaviest planes of any major hub.

I think one of the problems is that DXB is a 24 busy hub, some other airports like LHR can do the works slowly during the night curfew, so they don't really have do such a drastic move.


Anyway, I think 45 days to re-do both runways it's a very quick job and EK+FZ have the previous experience o adjust the operation, I think last time this happen EK cancelled too many flights and later they realized they could have had some more.

cougar15 wrote:

so what´s new, same as 2 years ago.....?

Yes, it is time for the other runway

JannEejit wrote:

Does DXB replace it's runway surface more often than other busy major hubs ?

Last time they did one runway, this time the other. The works have that a big effect, because of this big airport having only two runways. It shares this distinction with LHR, more movements and less passengers there. Most similar sized airports have more runways and it makes rather less waves in the news to resurface one of four or five runways.

Why not do this work in the winter when the tarmac will set far more quickly?

parapente wrote:

Why not do this work in the winter when the tarmac will set far more quickly?

DXB runways are a combination of concrete and asphalt. Concrete on the touchdown area - asphalt elsewhere. Add synthetics to the asphalt for faster curing.

Not a runway expert, but viewed the tender document.

parapente wrote:

Why not do this work in the winter when the tarmac will set far more quickly?

We are talking about Dubai.

Please enlighten us on when the Dubai temperatures are so significantly lower that tarmac will set quicker!

I imagine that the selected window has been determined very carefully to minimise disruption, or else the runway is in a condition that cannot wait for being resurfaced.

Too late now (or is it) to do a "Gatwick"? At LGW, the taxiway parallel to the "only" runway is actually a second runway, it is just too close to the main runway for the 2 to operate simultaneously. But LGW can shut down its "only" runway, and keep on operating!

Can someone educate me why not divert some flights to DWC?? Or am I missing something here? Just curious

sand26391 wrote:

Can someone educate me why not divert some flights to DWC?? Or am I missing something here? Just curious

As it is DWC has very limited capabilities as a passenger airport. The main business at DXB is not O&D but transit or transfer passengers. A bit difficult when you land at DWC and connect at DXB.

sand26391 wrote:

Can someone educate me why not divert some flights to DWC?? Or am I missing something here? Just curious

The EK model is highly dependent on connections, it would be a nightmare having to transfer passengers between DXB and DWC

Also, EWR is seeing a reduction. The nonstop flight is cancelled during this period, only DXB-ATH-EWR will be in operation

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... e-project/

The timing of runway improvements coincides roughly with ramadan, during which to/from/within the Middle East traffic is significantly reduced. You'll notice some of the largest reductions are within the GCC.

Just a couple of points of clarification for paving with asphalt concrete. Asphalt concrete does not "cure," it simply cools. Cooling changes the asphalt binder (the black sticky portion) from a viscous material to a more elastic and stiffer material. When placing asphalt concrete, it is actually much more important to think about how quickly the temperature of the asphalt concrete is dropping, as it needs to be compacted to a certain level of air voids. You do not want the temperature of the asphalt concrete to drop below 175F (80C) before you reach your desired air void target. I do not know the specific materials being used on DXB runways, but I assume that they are designed to be fully functioning during the peak heat of summer (additives can help with this, per Planesmart's comment), which I am sure exceeds 175F (80F) on the asphalt concrete surface.

Typical asphalt concrete has 3-7% air during service, but when it is first placed out of a paving machine, it has 11-15% air. Therefore, a series of compactors (steel wheel and pneumatic) are used to reduce the air void content from the 11-15% down to the 3-7%. Just as long as the compactors have enough time to go over freshly placed asphalt concrete before reaching the 175F (80C), it shouldn't take more than an hour for the asphalt concrete to reach a temperature that allows traffic to move over the surface without damaging the structure.

I could get into more detail, but this is the gist of placing asphalt concrete in terms of time and temperature.

sassiciai wrote:

parapente wrote:

Why not do this work in the winter when the tarmac will set far more quickly?

We are talking about Dubai.

Please enlighten us on when the Dubai temperatures are so significantly lower that tarmac will set quicker!

I imagine that the selected window has been determined very carefully to minimise disruption, or else the runway is in a condition that cannot wait for being resurfaced.

Too late now (or is it) to do a "Gatwick"? At LGW, the taxiway parallel to the "only" runway is actually a second runway, it is just too close to the main runway for the 2 to operate simultaneously. But LGW can shut down its "only" runway, and keep on operating!

It’s being done during Ramadan when travel for those of the muslim faith is at it’s lowest. The runway will be open again for Eid.

So 3 Rs impacting EK's schedule Ramadan, Runway resurface and Runaway crew.

Arion640 wrote:

sassiciai wrote:

parapente wrote:

Why not do this work in the winter when the tarmac will set far more quickly?

We are talking about Dubai.

Please enlighten us on when the Dubai temperatures are so significantly lower that tarmac will set quicker!

I imagine that the selected window has been determined very carefully to minimise disruption, or else the runway is in a condition that cannot wait for being resurfaced.

Too late now (or is it) to do a "Gatwick"? At LGW, the taxiway parallel to the "only" runway is actually a second runway, it is just too close to the main runway for the 2 to operate simultaneously. But LGW can shut down its "only" runway, and keep on operating!

It’s being done during Ramadan when travel for those of the muslim faith is at it’s lowest. The runway will be open again for Eid.

Dubai is cold in winter I have been told.

iadadd wrote:

Also, EWR is seeing a reduction. The nonstop flight is cancelled during this period, only DXB-ATH-EWR will be in operation

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... e-project/

Rather poor choice to remove EWR-DXB in my opinion.

Not sure how good the loads are on EWR-ATH during the spring, but all I know is that lots of EWR passengers that use EK to access certain Asian countries will be inconvenienced by the cancellation during the duration of this time.