A world-famous airport is to open its £2.3bn new terminal serving 45m passengers annually, doubling the airport’s capacity,
Zayed International Airport, formerly Abu Dhabi International Airport, will open Terminal A on November 1.
The new terminal features many state-of-the-art facilities, from luxury lounges to spa facilities and relaxation zones.
Despite being plagued by delays due to covid, the new terminal is finally good to go.
Elena Sorlini, managing director and interim CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: ”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.”
With the shopping area spanning 35,000 square metres, the terminal will have 160 retail and food and beverage outlets.
The terminal will further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s global standing as an aviation hub, capable of handling 79 planes at once and 11,000 passengers per hour.
Flying to 117 destinations from Terminal A, 28 airlines will use the new addition to the airport.
The terminal will be able to process a whopping 19,200 bags an hour
With an eye on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the terminal is equipped with 7500 solar panels.
The terminal provides self-service kiosks, streamlined security checkpoints, and advanced baggage handling systems to ensure a smooth and digitised travel experience.
James von Klemperer, President of Kohn Pedersen Fox, said: “We are delighted to see the opening of Terminal A, our largest and most complex airport to date.
“Terminal A is a showcase for Abu Dhabi, and its attention to detail, functionality, and to an inclusive and inspiring design, elevates the experience of travelling for all.”
As the second busiest airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Zayed International Airport is a major traffic hub between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
It’s also the home base of Etihad Airways and an operating base for Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi.