Abu Dhabi International Airport will soon be called “Zayed International Airport” following the directives of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The announcement was made today as Terminal A opened to the public with an Etihad Airways’ ceremonial flight.
According to Emirates News Agency (WAM), the new official name will take effect on February 9, 2024, along with Terminal A’s formal opening ceremony.
With Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal A beginning operations today, it is expected to boost Abu Dhabi’s commercial aviation sector by doubling the airport’s capacity. The new facilities at Terminal A will be able to process up to 45 million travelers annually.
It is also capable of handling 79 planes at once and 11,000 passengers per hour. The increase in capacity will enable airlines to boost their presence in Abu Dhabi in response to growing demand. With its new facilities and services, passenger can look forward to an enhanced travel experience.
Overall, these developments will help strengthen Abu Dhabi’s standing as a global aviation hub.
Opening details
All airlines will eventually move to Terminal A in three stages within two weeks. Following Etihad Airways’ ceremonial flight, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and 15 other international airlines have begun operations today.
From November 9, Etihad Airways will operate 16 daily flights, before moving all flights to the new terminal on November 14, along with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and 10 other airlines.
The full transition of all 28 airlines to Terminal A will take place on November 14th and all flights will take-off and land exclusively in Terminal A from 15th of November.
In preparation for today’s ceremonial flights and eventual opening, operational readiness trials took place last month. The trials included the participation of more than 11,000 volunteers who reside in Abu Dhabi. That included employees of Abu Dhabi Airports, students, families, and concerned parties from the aviation sector in Abu Dhabi. They participated in robust simulations of end-to-end passenger operations, testing systems, equipment, procedures, and staff performance in key operating areas.
Furthermore, operations included check-in, baggage, security screening, immigration, passports, and boarding. Completing these experiments successfully is an important milestone to ensure readiness when it opens to the public next November.
Read: Abu Dhabi Airports welcomes the world to Terminal A from November 1st
New era for Abu Dhabi Airports
Elena Sorlini, managing director and interim CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company said: “This is a momentous occasion for Abu Dhabi Airports and the emirate. The official opening of Terminal A today ushers a new era for air travel in Abu Dhabi. I’m grateful for the hard work from my colleagues, and partners across the aviation sector, that has helped us reach this historical milestone. We look forward to sharing the state-of-the-art facilities, available at Terminal A, with the world and welcoming passengers to Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new home.”
Terminal A, when fully operational, will be an attractive destination for shoppers. It covers an area of 35,000 square meters and has 163 shops, restaurants, and cafes. This provides travelers with a wide range of shopping outlets, food, and drinks.
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