Etihad Airways is seeking contractors to help build its new cargo terminal, which will enable the carrier to handle more than 2.5 million tonnes of freight by 2025.
In an advertisement published in The National yesterday, Etihad said that the new facility will be located in the East Midfield Support Zone at Abu Dhabi International on land leased by the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac). The site is in close proximity to the current airport.
Etihad said that it is interested in companies with experience in relevant projects worth Dh1 billion or above. The airline added that the closing date for pre-qualification is October 14.
The Midfield Terminal Complex will include a full terminal building, passenger and cargo facilities, and duty-free shops and restaurants. The terminal is scheduled to open in the summer of 2017 and will ultimately cater to 30 million passengers a year compared to the current capacity of 12.5 million.
Cargo volumes at Abu Dhabi International were up 16 per cent year-on-year in the first six months of 2014 as Etihad boosted its route network. The airport handled 377,885 tonnes during the period.
In its first half results, Etihad said that it is on track to turn the cargo side of the business into a billion- dollar operation this year. The Abu Dhabi carrier handled 268,713 tonnes of freight in the first half, up 25 per cent year-on-year.
Surging aircraft traffic through the UAE is adding thousands of tonnes of extra cargo capacity every day with demand also rising from restaurants, hotels and other fresh produce importers for warehousing around airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Overall regional capacity expanded 8.6 per cent in June year-on-year, according to the International Air Transport Association (Iata).
Middle East air cargo growth was 9.4 per cent in July and was up 10 per cent in the first half of the year, Iata said. Airlines in the region are capitalising on growth opportunities by expanding services to fast-growing emerging markets, such as Uganda and Mexico.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
