New surface for Dubai’s busy airport

Dubai’s busy international airport is now benefiting from new runway and taxiway areas that will help boost capacity. The upgrades are much needed as the airport is one of the world’s busiest in terms of international flights. Data from the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) says that in 2013, air passenger traffic worldwide topped 3.1 billion, and demand is expected to continue to grow. The combination of more flights and growing numbers of larger and more sophisticated aircraft like the A
January 6, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Dubai’s international airport now has new runway surfaces with bitumen having been supplied by Shell Bitumen

Dubai’s busy international airport is now benefiting from new runway and taxiway areas that will help boost capacity. The upgrades are much needed as the airport is one of the world’s busiest in terms of international flights.

Data from the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) says that in 2013, air passenger traffic worldwide topped 3.1 billion, and demand is expected to continue to grow.

The combination of more flights and growing numbers of larger and more sophisticated aircraft like the Airbus A380 means that the world’s busiest international airports are having to redevelop their runways and taxiways. The Airbus A380 weighs close to 400tonnes and landings of this huge aircraft can place enormous stresses on runway structures.

As a result, special techniques and materials are required to build the runways to ensure that they can cope with the immense engineering loads exerted.

When Dubai International Airport required its two runways to be upgraded and resurfaced in May 2014, 763 Shell Bitumen was approached by contractor Al Naboodah Construction Group to provide special bitumen solutions for this logistically challenging project. The company was able to provide special bitumen technologies to meet the demands of the project. In the past, Shell Bitumen has provide materials for use on other major airports, including Heathrow in the UK, Charles de Gaulle in France, Schiphol in the Netherlands, HKIA in Hong Kong, Changi in Singapore, KLIA in Malaysia, Frankfurt in Germany and Suvarnabhumi in Thailand.

Asphalt milling, paving & compaction Materials

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Zoomlion growing worldwide, particularly in lifting and concrete machine operations
    November 12, 2014
    Zoomlion is confident of future growth in its share of the world market for construction machines - Mike Woof writes Chinese manufacturers now lead the world in both lifting and concrete delivery systems, with Zoomlion featuring a particularly high profile. As one of the biggest manufacturers of construction equipment in China, Changsha-based Zoomlion is now a leading player worldwide in truck cranes, crawler cranes and tower cranes in particular. The firm recently raised its profile by combining its mobil
    Read More
  • Times they are a changing
    July 23, 2012
    Construction in China still appears to be on course for growth even with the gloomy economic outlook, as it enjoys "a strong budgets position." Patrick Smith reports One thing is certain in the current global economic climate: nothing is certain. And while China has not been unaffected by the economic events of recent months it has, according to Robert Zoellinck, president of the World Bank, a very strong current account and budgetary position. For some years, the nation has enjoyed double digit growth (the
    Read More
  • Recycling concrete runway saves time, money
    February 17, 2012
    Nashville International Airport in the US state of Tennessee has revamped its facilities following extensive upgrades being carried out on its oldest runway in a project worth some US$23 million. The airport authorities realised that to improve both capacity and safety a major improvement of runway 2L-20R was required, with full-depth reconstruction needed to provide the necessary structural strength and working life. Engineering firm Garver Aviation worked on the project to rehabilitate the portion of Runw
    Read More
  • Progression in concrete plant and mixing solutions
    July 14, 2014
    Big orders for and progress in plant and concrete mixing technology has been continuing at a rapid pace over recent months, as Guy Woodford reports Shantui recently completed an eye-catching US$3.2 million deal with a customer in the United Arab Emirates for 50 concrete mixer trucks. The deal is said to be an important breakthrough for the Chinese company’s concrete machinery in the Middle East market, raising brand awareness and laying a solid foundation for building market share. Over the past y
    Read More

Highlighted Content