Abu Dhabi plans $2.94bn expansion to airport
International airport will see capacity grow to 40m passengers by 2017
Abu Dhabi announced on Monday the launch of a $2.94bn project to build a new airport terminal in anticipation of a surge in passenger numbers by 2017.
The emirate’s international airport will see its capacity grow to 40 million passengers as the government anticipates significant growth in business and tourism travelers.
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2016, but will be commissioned in 2017 after a six month testing period, Ali al Mansoori, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Airport Company, said in a report by Emirates 24/7.
“After the completion of this project, we expect the airport’s capacity to rise to between 30 and 40 million passengers,” he explained to the news website.
According to Arabic news reports, the chairman added that the new terminal will have a capacity of 8,500 passengers, and will be able to handle 18,000 bags, per hour.
It will be fitted with 165 gates and 145 lifts, he said. In addition, a three star hotel will also be built.
“We expect that more than 60 aviation companies will use the airport in 2017 against around 50 at present,” he said.
“In 2012, the airport is expected to handle 14 million passengers, far higher than earlier projections of 12 million.”
