The long-awaited and highly anticipated Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is set to officially open on November 1st. The airport expects the terminal will significantly increase passenger capacity in Abu Dhabi, handling more than 75 planes.
Officials will finish the operational readiness trials involving over 11,000 volunteers to test the facility on Tuesday. The airport said the completion of the trials is a critical milestone in ensuring the new terminal is ready for the public. While strengthening the United Arab Emirates as a global hub in the industry, Terminal A’s state-of-the-art features are expected to enhance travel experiences for passengers and airlines in the region.
The final preparations
Abu Dhabi Airports Managing Director and Interim CEO Elena Sorlini spoke about opening the new terminal.
“With final preparations almost complete, I am proud to say we are ready to open Terminal A to the public on November 1st. We will see a rapid increase in the number of flights operating from Terminal A as of November 1st to the 14th, and I’m excited by the new opportunities and experiences which the iconic facility will bring to both airlines and passengers. Terminal A will drive the growth of the aviation sector in Abu Dhabi and play an instrumental role in welcoming more businesses and tourists to the emirate for decades to come.”
According to the Emirates New Agency, Etihad Airways, which operates a hub at AUH, will conduct a ceremonial flight on October 31st. Within the first two weeks of the terminal’s operation, airlines will transition to the facility in three phases.
After Etihad’s ceremonial flight, Wizz Air and 15 other international carriers will move their operations to the terminal. Etihad will offer 16 daily flights from Terminal A beginning November 9th before the airline moves officially on November 14th along with Arabia Abu Dhabi and 10 other airlines. AUH said all 28 airlines will operate flights from Terminal A by November 14th.
Operational readiness trials tested the facility through robust simulations involving equipment, staff, and procedures in key areas such as check-in, baggage, security screening, immigration, and boarding. More than 11,000 people, including airport workers, students, families, and stakeholders from the community, were selected to participate in the trials, which will conclude on Tuesday.
The terminal’s features
AUH said Terminal A will be a “shopper’s paradise” with nearly 377,000 square feet (35,000 sqm) of retail locations and food and beverage concessionaires. The terminal will also feature luxurious amenities for rest and relaxation, including two health and beauty spas and a modern open-air lounge, accompanying a “high-quality” hotel with 138 rooms.
The terminal will also embrace technological innovations to enhance the passenger experience. Once open, it will be the first in the world to include all nine biometric airport touchpoints with biometric solutions installed at self-service bag drops, immigration eGates, and boarding gates during the first phase. Thereafter, the airport said the terminal would utilize facial recognition technology to screen passengers and minimize wait times.
Efficiency and sustainability
With its X-shaped design, the terminal will improve efficiency and passenger flow. It will double AUH’s current capacity, accommodating as many as 45 million passengers annually.
As one of the largest airport terminals in the world, the facility is expected to bring a 45% reduction in water consumption. Additionally, the facility will conserve electricity and reduce carbon emissions with more than 7,500 solar panels powering a 3MW plant.
Source: https://simpleflying.com/abu-dhabi-mid-field-terminal-open-november-1st/
