Abu Dhabi International passenger numbers to surge

The airport, which last year handled 20 million passengers, is expected to handle between 23 and 24 million this year at its three existing terminals.

To accommodate increasing traffic the airport is undergoing a US $408.4m capacity enhancement programme (CEP) of its three existing terminals. With the first CEP phase – designed to improve Terminal 1 efficiency and passenger flow - complete, the second is imminent.
Under the first CEP phase, and additional nine Code E wide-body aircraft stands have been built, 16 more X-ray machines, capable of processing 2,000 transfer passengers an hour, have been installed while another 350 metres of walkways connect arrival gates to immigration and flight transfer facilities, and better enable arriving passengers to transfer to Terminal 3 with additional security checks. A new road network is also expected to be completed within the next month.
The CEP is aimed at helping the airport meet growing passenger demand until the new US $2.94 billion Midfield Terminal opens in 2017.
Between 60 and 65 per cent of the Midfield Terminal, part of a US $10 billion airport capital development programme, is due to be ready by the end of this year.

 Abu Dhabi’s Midfield Terminal – 60-65% complete this year