Operational efficiency at Dubai International has improved considerably following the setting up of the Middle East’s first integrated airport operations centre that facilitates information-sharing between stakeholders.

Collaborative Decision-making, a practice followed by some of the world’s most advanced airports, at the Joint Control Room at Dubai International’s Terminal 3 improves the airport’s overall efficiency, particularly in the aircraft turn-round procedures, by enhancing the decision-making process through sharing of information. The process also takes into consideration the requirements, available resources, and the preferences of stakeholders involved in the day to day operations at the airport.

 Explaining the concept, Majed Al Joker, VP of Terminal Operations at Dubai Airports said, “The JCR exists to work out the Airport Plan in a joint operation with other key stakeholders such as Emirates Airline, Dnata (ground handling), the Airport Medical Team, the Centre Of Ambulance Services, the Police and Immigration teams to name a few.”

He said, “The JCR was set up on August 30, 2008 in preparation for the opening of Dubai International’s Terminal 3 in October. The spectacular success of T3’s launch – acknowledged by aviation experts the world over, is a testimony to the significance of JCR’s role.”

The effects of the system can be felt across the length and breadth of the airport. “It has a direct impact on customer experience as there is a reduction in delays, increased accuracy in flight information display and a generally smoother flow of passenger traffic,” he explained.

He added, “The system also benefits all the stakeholders and strategic partners of the airport; it improves situational awareness, thereby enhancing safety and security. It helps optimise the use of the infrastructure and put the combined airport resources to efficient use.”

As the JCR evolves into a bigger and better facility, there are plans to migrate it into the state of the art Airport Operations Control Centre which will become a centralised Command and Control for operations at Dubai International.

Dubai Airports is the first in the Middle East and one of the few airports worldwide to have a control centre that can boast a multi stakeholder environment that brings together under one roof all entities that contribute to efficient real time coordination of one of the largest airport operations’ in the region.