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

  • Menestrina: new ways to engineer bitumen
    July 5, 2023
    Bitumen is changing,” says Massimo Menestrina, CEO of Menestrina, which manufactures specialist bitumen processing plants. Menestrina is at the forefront of these changes. Its air-blowing and polymer modification technologies are being used to improve the performance of poor-quality bitumen, and it has invented a new process which promises to transform recycled tyre rubber into a binder which can be used instead of bitumen.
    Read More
  • CH2M to rehabilitate Denver Airport aprons
    July 6, 2016
    Denver International Airport has awarded CH2M a contract for gate apron rehabilitation and drainage improvements. The three-year project encompasses professional engineering support and technical services for enhancements adjacent to concourses A, B and C. Included are pavement evaluations, replacement of deteriorating apron pavement, mitigation of apron drainage issues and ponding, as well as preventing water infiltration into concourse basements. Utility and infrastructure work includes installation
    Read More
  • India rushing to improve its highway system
    February 9, 2012
    Despite the world economic slowdown, India still seems in a rush to improve its highway system as Patrick Smith reports. Later this year India will be seen by hundreds of millions worldwide when the country's capital New Delhi hosts its biggest event ever.
    Read More
  • Lintec & Linnhoff’s new plans
    December 1, 2020
    Lintec & Linnhoff is unveiling its new market expansion plans after a successful business transformation
    Read More

Highlighted Content