The new Emirates SkyCentral cargo terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central (DWC), has opened, capable of handling 700,000 tonnes of freight per year. This is just the initial implementation; later on, throughput capacity will increase by an additional 300,000 tons, bringing it up to 1 million tonnes per year.
The internal system, built by Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions, is housed in a one-story building of approximately 732,000 square feet. The new facility, which is expected to improve cargo processing cycle times, includes cargo tracking capability, new cargo screening capacity and space for direct build-up/breakdown handling, providing quick transit to and from airside.
Divided into specific areas for cargo storage and handling, the terminal consists of dedicated areas, such as acceptance, bypass and staging, with only short-term storage for inbound and outbound cargo. A multi-level storage system has the capacity to hold 800 ULD positions.
Direct cross-dock lanes are provided to ensure quick cargo transfers from aircraft to road services and vice-versa. Special cargo is processed and stored in a 16,000-square-meter perishable area, equipped with freezer zones, as well as individual cooling units with various temperature zones.
All of this is controlled by a cargo-handling IT system called “Cargo Compact,” by Siemens. The Emirates SkyCentral terminal at DWC is also set up to handle the growing amount of belly freight the carrier is transporting, given the increase in its passenger frequencies. The facility will receive an upgrade to the latest automation features and IT processes from Siemens, followed by another processing module.