Dubai Airport plans Terminal 1 upgrade

Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport is set to undergo a major refurbishment this year.Due to start at some point during the first quarter of 2013, the project will see all check-in desks replaced, baggage systems upgraded and public areas modernised. The terminal's baggage screening process will also be streamlined and made more efficient.According to a statement from the airport, passengers can expect to enjoy a "vastly improved travelling experience" once the work is complete.Terminal 1 is the departure and arrival point for all major airlines in Dubai expect for Emirates, which has a dedicated base in Terminal 3. More than 90 carriers currently operate from Terminal 1, which has the capacity to handle 20 million passengers per year.Paul Griffiths, chief executive of operator Dubai Airports, said the company is "continually striving to enhance the service we offer all our passengers while expanding our facilities to meet the growing number of passengers passing through the airport".He added: "In addition to significantly increasing our capacity, the upgrade of Terminal 1 together with the construction of Concourse D will offer our passengers a more inviting and comfortable environment."A new elevated train system will be built to link the upgraded terminal with the airport's Concourse D, which is currently under construction and due to open in 2015.The terminal refurbishment will represent the next phase in the airport's ongoing expansion, which is being carried out to prepare for an expected rise in capacity to 90 million passengers by 2018.Dubai Airports has forecast total traffic of 66 million passengers this year, having seen the number of people passing through the hub exceed its target of 56.5 million in 2012.The airport recently opened its new Concourse A, the world's first dedicated facility for the A380 superjumbo.