(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Abu Dhabi International Airport is preparing to welcome 23 million passengers this year, against 20 million passengers handled last year, a top official said.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company is spending Dh1.5 billion to upgrade the existing facilities at its main airport in order to enhance its operational efficiency to better manage increasing traffic loads, as the capital city becomes a tourist and business hub.
The first phase of the Capacity Enhancement Programme was opened here at Terminal 1, which is designed to improve overall operational efficiency and increase the speed at which passengers move through the airport.
"Starting today, passengers will find the whole experience of moving around simpler, easier and more enjoyable. This upgrade to our facilities is part of a continuing programme aimed at delivering the best possible passenger experience," said Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, at performing the ribbon cutting at the opening ceremony.
Engr Ahmed Al Haddabi, chief operating officer of Abu Dhabi Airports Company told reporters that the new enhancements at the airport will facilitate 23 million passengers this year. However, its capacity to manage passengers is 24 million passengers.
In 2030, Abu Dhabi has projected to welcome 55 million passengers. Abu Dhabi is spending Dh1.5 billion on the new improvements at Abu Dhabi Airport which will allow facilitating the huge passenger traffic, ahead of the opening of the multi-billion dollar Midfield Terminal in 2017.
The overall approach to this phase has been to reconfigure passenger flows into and through Terminal 1. Under the programme 350-metres of new walkways have been installed which have directly linked the passenger arrival gates to the immigration halls and transfer screening facilities. The phase saw opening of nine aircraft stands for wide bodied aircraft.
The new facility will increase the aircraft parking capacity to 72 aircrafts at the terminal 1,2 and 3.
Also 16 X-Ray screening machines have been installed to process 2,000 transfer passengers per hour in order to speed-up passenger movement and reducing waiting time. Now the transfer passengers arriving at Terminal 1 will proceed directly to Terminal 3 without the need for further screening. The upgrades will significantly improve passengers' experience, said Engr. Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Airports. The whole screening process has been improved to increase efficiency as well as security, he said.
Passengers will have more space in which to move about and will spend less time queuing, giving them more of an opportunity to enjoy the multiple retail, F&B and entertainment facilities on offer.
The improvements to passenger flows inside Terminal 1 are being complemented by a new road network that will enhance airport access to all travelers, whether arriving or departing, from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The work is expected to be completed within the next month. Vehicles departing from arrivals, departures and the car parks will now be able to get straight onto roads to central Abu Dhabi, Dubai and local areas such Al Raha, Yas Island and Khalifa City.
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