Milestone for Abu Dhabi airport

Airport’s three terminals welcome record 20 million passengers in 2014

Dubai — Abu Dhabi International Airport hit a milestone in 2014 as the airport’s three terminals welcomed more than 20 million passengers last year, registering a 20 per cent year-on- year increase. It is the highest-ever percentage growth in the airport’s history since 2006.

The airport also handled 154,821 traffic movements, up 14.5 per cent compared to last year while cargo throughput registered year-on-year 12.8 per cent rise, reaching 797,069 million tonnes in 2014.

In 2014, two new airlines joined Abu Dhabi International Airport; the Greek Aegean Airline and Nikki Airways from Austria, and a further 12 new destinations were added. The top five destinations from Abu Dhabi were India, Germany, United Kingdom, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

“Abu Dhabi Airports is playing a fundamental role in supporting the drive by the emirate of Abu Dhabi to grow its global position as a key player in various dynamic industries, including aviation, both through offering excellent services for passengers and by increasing capacity to meet the continuing growth in demand,” Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, said.

“The continuing growth in passenger numbers translates this ambition as it strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a growing global transportation hub,” he added.

December was the airport’s second busiest month of the year following August 2014 as passenger traffic surged 21.7 per cent to 1,833,868 million. Cargo tonnage rose 5.6 per cent to 69,736 tonnes and the number of aircraft movements climbed 17 per cent to 14,105.

Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research, said the strength of traffic growth at Abu Dhabi International Airport underlines the continued strength and demand for travel to and through the UAE, coupled with Dubai International too.

“It also highlights that both busy airports can co-exist and that the investment in the Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi will be key to unlocking the organic growth by its biggest incumbent operator, Etihad Airways,” Ahmad said.

He said the expansion that Etihad has witnessed over the last few years alongside that of its equity partners shifting operations to Abu Dhabi has bolstered traffic figures at the airport 20 per cent higher, while December 2014 traffic was up by almost 22 per cent on the same time a year ago.

Abu Dhabi Airports is currently under multi-billion dollar re-development and expansion plan to increase its capacity to handle more than 40 million passengers annually by 2017. Last year, it launched 20 new bus gates, 21 new code E aircraft stands for wide-bodied aircraft and 16 new security x-ray machines to expand the current flight and aircraft handling capacity.

In December, the airport re-opened its renovated southern runway as part of its expansion plans in preparation for the iconic Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) becoming operational in 2017. The Southern Runway is now functional alongside the northern runway.

Together, both runways will reach a total combined capacity in excess of 500,000 aircraft movements, annually making Abu Dhabi International Airport one of the largest two-runway operations in the world.

“Looking forward, Abu Dhabi International will continue to offer customers more global connectivity ahead of the increased capacity that the Midfield Terminal will offer from summer 2017 and we’re likely to see growth this year in a similar magnitude of around 20-25 per cent, taking passenger figures to around 25 million in 2015,” Ahmad said.

“Abu Dhabi International is well positioned amongst its GCC peers and the lure of its much sought-after business and leisure economies will ensure that demand stays robust for years to come,” Ahmad added.