Abu Dhabi’s Terminal A to open on Nov 1: Airlines to transition in 3 phases, see details

From November 1, Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal A, will begin operations bringing a major increase to passenger capacity in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad’s ceremonial flight will take place on October 31, ahead of opening the terminal to the public on November 1.

Airlines will transition into Terminal A in three phases over a period of two weeks: after Etihad’s ceremonial flight on October 31, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and 15 other international airlines will fly from the new Terminal on November 1.

From November 9, Etihad Airways will operate 16 daily flights, before completing its move to its new home on November 14, together with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and 10 other airlines. From November 14, all 28 airlines will be  operational from Terminal A.

In preparation for the opening in November, operational readiness trials will conclude on October 17.

Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal A will open across three phases starting from 1 November 2023, gradually integrating all airlines travelling to and from Abu Dhabi to the new terminal by 14 November 2023. pic.twitter.com/wbE6DranhF

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) October 31, 2023

In total, the trials involved more than 11,000 volunteers selected from the Abu Dhabi community.  These included Abu Dhabi Airports staff members, students, families and stakeholders from Abu Dhabi’s aviation community.

Elena Sorlini, managing director and Interim CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “With final preparations almost complete, I am proud to say we are ready to open Terminal A to the public on November. We will see a rapid increase in the number of flights operating from Terminal A as of November 1-14, and I’m excited by the new opportunities and experiences which the iconic facility will bring to both airlines and passengers.

“Terminal A will drive the growth of the aviation sector in Abu Dhabi and play an instrumental role in welcoming more businesses and tourists to the emirate for decades to come.”

Travel retail offerings at Terminal A

When fully operational, Terminal A will be a shopper’s paradise covering 35,000m2 with 163 retail concessionaires and food and beverage outlets.

From Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Ferragamo, to the world’s first Muji airport store, Terminal A will be a shopping destination designed to amplify a passenger’s travel experience.

When it comes to food and beverages, travellers can enjoy meals from Jones The Grocer, Taste of India, Starbucks and the Camden Food Co. among others.

McDonalds and TGI Fridays outlets will also be at the terminal.

Additionally, Todd English opens his first airport restaurant providing diners with a wide selection of cuisines from around the world. For relaxation and rejuvenating prior to flying, there are two health and beauty spas along with a high quality 138-bedroom hotel plus a modern open-air lounge offering renowned Arabic hospitality.

Terminal A will prioritise the passenger experience, facilitating a streamlined service from kerb to gate. It will also be the first in the world to include all nine biometric airport touchpoints. The first phase will see biometric solutions installed in key areas, such as self-service bag drops, immigration eGates and boarding gates.

When fully operational, it will use facial recognition technology to screen passengers and minimise wait times.

Combined with other high-tech facilities including an advanced baggage handling system capable of processing up to 19,200 bags per hour, Terminal A is poised to deliver a seamless passenger journey to travellers like never before.

It also has 65 parking stands connecting aircraft with allocated boarding gates for less congestion.

Focused on sustainability

The X-shaped building design helps improve operational efficiency and passenger flow featuring four themed piers inspired by Abu Dhabi’s desert, sea, city and oasis natural landscapes. It also features the Sana Al Nour, which is one of the largest indoor public art features in the Middle East, standing at 22 metres tall and 17 metres wide.

Terminal A will reduce water consumption by 45 per cent, whilst more than 7,500 solar panels power a 3MW plant that currently saves 5,300 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Meanwhile, a state-of-the-art Advanced Surface Movement Control System, the first of its kind in the Middle East, will allow planes to land quickly and safely during low-visibility weather conditions.

Terminal A is one of the largest airport terminals in the world, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s global position as a centre for tourism, trade and commerce. The terminal will double the current airport capacity, with the capability to accommodate up to 45 million passengers per year.

At triple the size of the previous terminal, and with flights to 117 destinations worldwide, it will increase both the frequency and reach of flights to and from Abu Dhabi.