Abu Dhabi Airports has reported a 15.1% increase in passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2014 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, compared with Q1 2013.

 

As previously reported by TRBusiness.com, within the next few years, over 20m passengers are expected to use Abu Dhabi International Airport as their origin, destination or transit point. The Midfield Terminal Building (MTB), Abu Dhabi Airports’ iconic expansion project, is being constructed to handle increasing passenger traffic.

 

The project features one of the largest terminal buildings in the world spread over a space of 700,000sq m. The MTB will also presents a space of 28,000sq m of duty free shops and restaurants and provide an initial capacity of 30m passengers per year.

 

The airport’s passenger statistics showed that in the first quarter of 2014, a total of 4,560,169 passengers used Abu Dhabi International Airport, a 15.1% increase over Q1 2013 (3,963,458 passengers). Aircraft movements rose to 35,844 in Q1 2014, representing 11.8% growth compared with 32,062 movements logged in Q1 2013.

 

RECORD QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE

Eng Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We have seen more than 4.5m passengers pass through Abu Dhabi International Airport in the first three months of the year, which is a record quarterly performance.

 

Abu Dhabi Airport recorded 4,560,169 pax in Q1.

 

“It is clear that businesses and tourists alike increasingly see Abu Dhabi both as a destination of choice and as a logical transit point on longer journeys. This in turn is further evidence of the airport’s rapidly growing status as a major global transportation hub, and shows why our capacity enhancement programme remains a critical and complex initiative to enable passengers to have the best possible travel experience.”

 

In April, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for regional cooperation and global standards to support the continued success of aviation in the Gulf area.

 

“Airspace congestion is a real and rising problem. And it grows with each new aircraft that is delivered,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO in a keynote address to the Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi. Unless it is dealt with expeditiously, the efficient hub operations which are supporting the region’s success will begin to unravel.”

 

MIDFIELD TERMINAL COMPLEX

The top five routes from Abu Dhabi International Airport during March were Manila, Bangkok Jeddah, Doha, and London Heathrow.

 

Midfield Terminal Complex construction site.

 

Within the next few years, over 30m passengers are expected to use Abu Dhabi International Airport as their origin, destination or transit point for international and domestic flights.

 

The Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC), Abu Dhabi Airports’ iconic expansion project, is being constructed to handle increasing passenger traffic. The project features a full terminal building (MTB), passenger and cargo facilities, duty free shops and restaurants for an initial capacity of 30m passengers per year.