Demand on infrastructure at Abu Dhabi International Airport will be at a critical level by the end of next year, when annual passenger numbers reach 27 million, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports said yesterday.
That will come just as the new Midfield Terminal will be ready to open in 2017.
The airport is expected to handle between 23 million and 24 million passengers this year at its three existing terminals compared to 20 million passengers last year, Ali Majed Al Mansoori said yesterday.
Mr Al Mansoori said that between 60 and 65 per cent of the Midfield Terminal would be completed by the end of this year.
To accommodate the increase in traffic, the airport has been undergoing a Dh1.5 billion capacity enhancement programme (CEP) of its existing terminals.
“The demand here will be more than 23 million, and what we are doing is making sure that the capacity meets the demand,” said Ahmad Al Haddabi, the chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Airports.
“Phase one of CEP is over and now CEP 2, which is an enhancement of the airport, will be starting soon.”
Designed to improve efficiency and passenger flow at Terminal 1, the first phase of the programme included the installation of X-ray machines and 350 metres of walkways connecting arrival gates to immigration and flight transfer facilities, and the free movement of arriving passengers transferring to Terminal 3.
Nine wide-body aircraft stands have also been added, Abu Dhabi Airports said yesterday. A new road network is also expected to be completed within the next month, it said.
The enhancements will help the airport to continue to meet growing passenger demand until the new terminal opens, said Mr Al Haddabi.
The Dh10.8 billion Midfield Terminal project is part of a Dh37bn capital development programme for the airport as Abu Dhabi diversifies its economy away from oil through investment in growing sectors such as tourism and aviation.
Etihad Airways is spearheading efforts and has been expanding its network through minority stakes in other airlines.
By the end of last year Etihad had increased its equity partnership to eight, consisting of Air Seychelles, Airberlin, Virgin Australia, Air Serbia, Ireland’s Aer Lingus, India’s Jet Airways, Italy’s Alitalia, and Etihad Regional (formerly known as Darwin Airline).
Etihad carried 14.8 million passengers last year, an increase of 23 per cent over 2013.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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