Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH/OMAA), United Arab Emirates

Following the success of the expansion projects at Abu Dhabi completed in 2002, which included a new 4,100m runway and taxiway, a new satellite terminal, a rapid transit shuttle and a series of 18 new aircraft stands that cost nearly $230m, the passenger traffic was recognised to be more than the airport could handle comfortably.

Consequently the Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Aviation in conjunction with the Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (SCADIA) began, in 2004, to work on a more ambitious expansion plan to transform Abu Dhabi International Airport into a major transport hub for the Middle East for both cargo and passengers.

In August 2006 Abu Dhabi International, along with all of the other airports in the country were privatised and placed under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) – with a share value of AED500m. ADAC will now oversee all of the work relating to the new midfield terminal development and further expansion of airport facilities.

In December 2006 Changi Airport of Singapore was awarded a management and operations contract for Abu Dhabi International Airport. In January 2007 Changi was also retained as a consultant to advise ADAC on its ongoing expansion plan at the airport. Changi Airport is the operations and consulting subsidiary of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.

Abu Dhabi Airport traffic

The airport was used by over 3.4 million passengers in 1998. By 2004 this had increased to 5.2 million, to 5.4 million in 2005 and 6.7 million in 2006. Figures for 2007 have showed the passenger numbers at 6.9 million, up 31% year-on-year.

Projections for 2011 expect 20 million passengers a year. Cargo volume also had a strong showing in 2007 of 315,317t and increasing to 353,820t in 2008.

Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded an upward trend in passenger traffic by 30.2% of 9.02 million passengers in 2008 compared to 6.9 million in 2007 and aircraft movements were increased by 13.2% to 93,163(2008) over 82,287(2007).

The number of airlines using the airport has increased over the last five years as have the number of flights and range of international destinations. The authorities responsible for the airport at the time recognised this growth and put into action two plans to increase its capacity.

Expansion plans

The first phase of the expansion project (AED300m) included the construction of two new terminal buildings with a capacity of three million passengers a year. These were completed within six months of being designed and opened in September 2005 (built as a quick fix to the capacity problems at the airport). The terminals are designated Terminal 1A (8,000m² with a capacity one million passengers a year) and Terminal 2 (12,000m² with a capacity of two million passengers a year). The first phase also included nine aircraft hard standings.

Phase two of the expansion, which began in late 2006, includes the construction of a new super-sized midfield terminal building, along with a second parallel 4,100m runway, a new aircraft control tower and new cargo facilities (with a handling capacity of two million tons a year).

This massive development is expected to cost $6.8bn and will take place to the north of the existing airport. The first phase of this second expansion project is due for completion in 2011.

Additional plans have also been made for a 12km circular rail transport system having 19 stops and linking Abu Dhabi with the airport and also the free trade zones instigated as part of the airport expansion.

The development is essentially a new airport. When the new facilities are complete the existing airport will be phased out. The new mega midfield terminal complex will be capable of handling an additional 20 million passengers a year initially and then later, as Abu Dhabi develops as a major Middle East transport hub, up to 50 million passengers a year (this should provide major competition to Dubai International airport).

The 5.9-million-square-metre terminal will initially include 42 gates, rising to more than 90 gates on completion of the airport.

The project will provide a top-quality home base for the United Arab Emirates national carrier Etihad Airways, which ordered 205 wide-body and narrow body planes in 2008. The deal includes 100 firm orders, 55 options and 50 purchase rights of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

An ADAC spokesman commented "The new airport will showcase the UAE's cultural, environmental and economic achievements. It will feature architecturally innovative and operationally efficient facilities offering world-class service to both Etihad Airways and the other airlines, those who have already established a presence at Abu Dhabi as well as others who are planning to follow suit."

All of the plans were ratified by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in late 2005.

New Abu Dhabi terminals

The new 12,000m² Terminal 2, which opened in September 2005, now services 12 airlines. The terminal, although a relatively temporary measure, still cost $30m to construct (along with terminal 1A) and is complete with baggage handling system with in-line security screening facility, flight information display system (FIDS), security surveillance and access control, 1,000m² of duty free and cafeterias, business class lounge, e-gate and iris scan.

In addition Terminal 2 also has a dedicated first and business class lounge, 18 check-in counters and 20 arrival and eight departure passport booths; the facility was designed to maximise passenger comfort and flow during both arrival and departure.

The new Terminal 1A has been dedicated to Gulf Traveller, which currently operates to 45 destinations from Abu Dhabi, with its fleet of twin-engine, Boeing 767-300 short to medium-range narrow-bodied aircraft.

This 5,000m² facility has an annual capacity of one million passengers with nine check-in counters, fast and efficient baggage processing systems, dedicated passport control booths, two departure gates and a spacious departure lounge. There are also duty free and retail areas offering a wide choice of goods.

A further $27.2m has also been committed for the construction of nine new Code E/F aircraft hard stands (with 400MHz power supplies), the first phase of which became operational in late 2005, including two stands designed to handle the new, next-generation Airbus A380 double-decker airliner.

Other key aspects of the project included the design of remote aircraft stands complete with airfield ground lighting and hydrant fuel.

A new state-of-the-art concourse expansion in the original airport terminal for the exclusive use of Etihad Airways was also completed.

Terminal 3 opened in January 2009 and boasts ten gates, two of which are capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft such as the A380. The terminal will accommodate the airline's expected growth until 2011, when the new mega midfield terminal is opened. Built at a cost of AED1bn, the Terminal 3 building is spread across an area of 75,000m2 and has a passenger capacity of five million. It also features 20 premium check-in counters, duty free shops, restaurants and cafés.

The soft-launch of the CAT III (B) second runway introduced in October of 2008 will act as an interim facilities provider for the midfield terminal complex and would accommodate 12 million passengers per year. This terminal will be mainly used by Etihad Airways. The Midfield complex is expected to be fully operational by 2012.

A business and logistics park has been proposed to attract companies wanting to set up base in the UAE. The park will have 19 boutiques and duty-free outlets. It will occupy a 12km2 site near the airport and is being constructed in two phases. Construction of the first phase started in 2007 and is expected to be completed in 2010. The second phase is expected to start in 2011 and will be completed in 2015.

Environmental concerns

SCADIA has performed an environmental impact assessment at the proposed site for the new midfield mega terminal and has started translocation of a spiny lizard, indigenous to this region, to a new habitat.

Excavation has also begun on three possible pre-Islamic archaeological sites, while work is also underway on the transplanting of a forest to the new northern boundary of the site for noise and visual screening.

Airport inside an airport

The new 4,100m parallel runway and taxiway will cater to latest generation aircraft such as the Airbus A380. Cargo, free trade zones, catering, maintenance facilities and other commercial developments will be constructed between the two runways.

The new runway, designed by Halcrow, includes a large terminal building, a new 110m air traffic control (ATC) tower, a cargo and logistics centre, a commercial area with a free zone and associated retail development. Abu Dhabi International Airport awarded Thales a contract for building a new 20-storey air traffic control complex (ATCC), situated between the existing and the new second runway.

It is planned in two phases with the first phase having a capacity to handle 20 million passengers per annum by 2011.

The architect behind the midfield terminal complex's master plan, Kohn Pederson Fox, has revealed it will have an 'X' design. The KPF team adopted structural solutions that created large, column-free zone that will allow for future space planning needs. The 'X'-shaped plan involves a large ticketing hall framed by a series of long-span steel arches supporting the roof.

On completion, the hall will lead into a central area with a garden, a reference to Abu Dhabi reputation as the 'Garden of the Gulf'.

Some of the other contractors for the project include Besix Group (general construction), Al Jaber Energy Services and GHD.