Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal Opening Date Revealed
Abu Dhabi International Airport will run new operations from early November at ‘Terminal A’
Terminal A was previously known as the Midfield Terminal Building during its construction phase at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
This new facility has the capacity to serve up to 45 million passengers annually, handle 11,000 travelers per hour, and accommodate 79 aircraft simultaneously, as per the statement.
The opening of Terminal A will be a milestone that aims to redefine the landscape of air travel in the region and boost Abu Dhabi’s global standing in trade and tourism.
Spanning an expansive 742,000 square meters, Terminal A ranks among the world’s largest airport terminals, which has capacity to handle both passengers and cargo.
Architecturally, Terminal A has received international design accolades as well. Moreover, sustainability is at the forefront of Terminal A’s design ethos, with energy-efficient lighting, advanced HVAC systems, and the incorporation of sustainable construction materials.
In a substantial move towards reducing its carbon footprint, the terminal boasts a fully integrated solar photovoltaic system on its car park roof, generating three megawatts of power and saving nearly 5,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, expressed the significance of Terminal A, highlight its role as “Abu Dhabi’s new gateway to the world” and a symbol of the emirate’s commitment to sustainable economic development.
“Terminal A is an embodiment of Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to support the emirate’s sustainable economic development. The opening of the facility, which is on par with the largest and grandest on our planet, turns over a new page in Abu Dhabi’s 55-year aviation history,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, highlighted Terminal A’s focus on excellence and its role in providing a seamless passenger journey, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s position on the global stage in business, trade, and tourism.
“Terminal A exemplifies our commitment to excellence and offering exceptional services that meet the evolving priorities of today’s travellers. Through leveraging the latest technologies, Abu Dhabi’s reimagined airport experience will offer a seamless passenger journey, fostering connectivity, interactions, business, trade and tourism, all of which are essential elements in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position on the world stage,” Sorlini said.
Tom Cruise ‘first passenger’ at Abu Dhabi Terminal A
Renowned Hollywood actor Tom Cruise‘s arrival in the UAE in June, created a significant moment as he became the first passenger to touch down at Terminal A.
Cruise’s visit was in promotion of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” a film that had some of its scenes shot at this very terminal.
Playing Ethan Hunt in the Mission Impossible series, Cruise landed at the newly completed Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal A, underlining the terminal’s growing prominence.
To mark the film’s release, Cruise also revealed a custom-designed Mission: Impossible theme on an Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Etihad was the official airline partner of the movie and displayed movie branding on its flights.
In a nod to its role in the film, the striking architecture of the Terminal A was featured in the movie, where some of the most thrilling and technically complex action scenes was filmed on the 315-meter-long roof of the terminal.
Audiences got their first glimpse of the terminal’s interior when the film hit theaters on July 13, 2023.
