Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi Airport to be ‘Fully Operational’ Soon

The new terminal will further boost the airport passenger capacity to 12 million per year. The best-in-class facility will be predominantly used by Etihad Airways and its passengers although, in addition to the increased capacity it will offer the airport, the new terminal will also offer a brand new retail and F&B environment.

Meanwhile, the ADAC registered a 30.2 per cent air passengers’ growth in 2008 by handling 9.02 million passengers as compared to 6.9 millionin 2007.

As world-wide industry trends show a general slowing of passenger traffic, growth rates for December reflected a more growth pattern of 12.1 per cent, the statement said.

While, the cargo in December 2008 saw a slight decline over December figures of 2007 but overall cargo figures, for the full 12 months, saw a steady 12.2 per cent increase.

Aircraft movements at Abu Dhabi International Airport saw a similar 13.2 per cent increase up to 93,163 (2008) over 82,287 (2007).

In other airport data released by ADAC yesterday, the top five most popular city destinations travelled to, from Abu Dhabi, in December 2008 were Doha (first), London, Cairo, Bangkok and Bahrain, the statement added.

“ADAC is absolutely delighted to have crossed another historic milestone and passed the nine million a year passenger figure,” said Khalifa Al Mazrouei, ADAC Chairman.

“We are grateful for the ever increasing number of passengers who, quite clearly, are looking to Abu Dhabi as an airport of choice in the UAE and region. In achieving this milestone Etihad Airways must be recognised for the commitment the airline is making to increasing connectivity and frequencies to and from the UAE capital.”

“In addition I would like to thank the increasing number of partner airlines that are continuing to choose Abu Dhabi as a regional and international hub together with our longstanding customer airlines, particularly those who have increased their services to Abu Dhabi and have been improving their connectivity,” he said.

“Of course, our success is also testament to the hard work that all our staff and the related agencies at the airport put in on a daily basis — especially when you consider that the airport continues to undergo rapid year-on-year expansion,” added Al Mazrouei.

· business@khaleejtimes.com