It’s a big day for aviation in the UAE, as the first flight has operated today from Abu Dhabi Airport’s much anticipated new terminal. Over the next couple of weeks, we can expect all flights to transition to the new terminal. Let’s go over all the details, including what has made this project so complicated.
In this post:
Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A transition details
Between now and November 14, 2023, Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) intends to transition its operations to Terminal A. Note that while this terminal has been known as the Midfield Terminal during construction, operationally it’s being referred to as Terminal A (even though the existing terminals are known as Terminal 1 and Terminal 3).
The below video gives you a good sense of the terminal interior, and is the best such video I’ve seen, so I’d highly recommend watching it.
So, what should we expect with the transition?
- Today (October 31, 2023), Etihad has operated a ceremonial flight that departs from Terminal A, celebrating the opening of the new terminal; this is flight EY224 to New Delhi
- Starting November 1, 2023, 16 airlines (excluding Etihad) will start to operate at Terminal A
- Between November 9 and November 14, 2023, Etihad will progressively move all of its operations to Terminal A
- As of 11AM on November 14, 2023, the new terminal will be fully operational, replacing previous terminals, and 28 airlines will operate there
The current plan is to move (nearly) all operations to the new terminal, since it has the capacity to handle all flights. The airport still plans to keep Terminal 3, in the event that demand increases in the future, and operations from there are once again needed. However, Terminal A will be the primary terminal for the foreseeable future.
The one catch is that Abu Dhabi Airport has a US PreClearance facility, which allows travelers flying nonstop to the United States to clear immigration before departure. It would appear that these flights may still operate from the old terminal, as Etihad states the following:
If you have a connecting flight to the US and your flight has arrived in Terminal A, head to Gate F two hours before your connecting flight. This will allow ample time to board the shuttle bus and clear US immigration before you fly.
Another big question is regarding the future of lounges. It’s my understanding that Terminal A lounges should be up and running around the time that the new terminal opens, though as of now we don’t know much about the details. However, it is expected that the Etihad First Class Lounge and Etihad Business Class Lounge, should open soon as well as the Pearl Lounge in Terminal A.
Here’s how Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, describes the move to Terminal A:
“As Abu Dhabi’s new gateway to the world, 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. A beacon of modernity and sophistication, it be a will be a pivotal driver for our emirate’s growth by spurring tourism and trade.”
The basics of Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A
For some background, back in 2012, construction started on a new Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi Airport. The new terminal was supposed to increase the airport’s capacity by up to 45 million passengers per year, more than doubling the existing capacity. The terminal is a total of 742,000 square meters (around eight millions square feet).
Abu Dhabi’s new terminal was initially supposed to open in 2017. To be clear, that timeline wasn’t just a vision many years in advance, but rather in early 2017, the plan was still for the terminal to open the same year. However, shortly thereafter, it was announced that there would be a delay of up to two years on the terminal, with a new planned opening of 2019.
In 2019 it was looking like the new terminal would actually open, and trials were even run with volunteers, to make sure the terminal was largely operating as planned from a passenger experience standpoint. At the time, the terminal was allegedly 98% complete.
Unfortunately even following that, not a whole lot happened. In 2021, we learned that the operator of the airport had canceled its contract with the consortium that was supposed to be building the nearly $3 billion terminal, even though the project was nearly complete.
For roughly six years now, Abu Dhabi has had a terminal that’s nearly ready to go, but it has remained closed… until now. That’s despite the fact that the terminal was featured in the recent “Mission: Impossible” movie. It’s nice to see that this terminal is finally seeing passengers.
Why Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A didn’t open for so long
Construction delays are common, especially at airports. For example, there was the whole disaster of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, possibly the most dysfunctional airport project we’ve ever seen. While Abu Dhabi did encounter some minor issues with its new terminal, that’s not what caused the delay in the terminal’s opening.
Rather, the delay seems to largely be because the government of Abu Dhabi had shifted its aviation strategy in recent years. The Midfield Terminal hasn’t been needed in terms of capacity.
The idea for the new Midfield Terminal was developed at a time when Etihad wanted to become a major global airline, and compete with both Emirates and Qatar. At the time, Etihad had hundreds of planes on order, and was going to get bigger year-after-year, and as a result needed a bigger airport.
Starting about five years ago, the government of Abu Dhabi had a change of heart, and wasn’t willing to pour endless money into the airline anymore. Since then, Etihad has become more of a boutique airline, and the airline has essentially shrunk itself into profitability. The airline is now starting to reverse course, and grow sustainably. With that, the airline most definitely needs the new terminal.
Bottom line
Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new Midfield Terminal (known as Terminal A) is finally opening, and has just had its first passenger flight. The terminal transition is happening over a period of two weeks, with all airlines moving their operations by November 14.
This opening comes after a delay of roughly six years. This delay hasn’t been due to some construction disaster, but rather because the terminal just hasn’t been needed for the past several years, given the pandemic.
With Etihad once again growing and Abu Dhabi looking to expand air connectivity, the Midfield Terminal is finally opening. It’s nice for Etihad to finally have a more competitive ground experience, especially given other hubs in the region.
What’s your take on the new Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal finally opening?
This Airport looks like it was built in the future and brought to 2023.
Amazing design, futuristic, everything looks so good, this is what you get when money is no object, absolutely brilliant, everything is amazing, not to forget Etihad staff and service in the plane was great. Lets get back to the airport, How did you guys build this, Wow. Masha ﷲ,
This Airport is the Best in the World Period. 21 November 2023
Just departed through the new terminal this week. Absolutely fantastic compared to T3 and T1 (although I'll miss the brightly-colored donut that was T1). Passport control, bag drop, and security all seamless and took just 10 minutes. There were many comfortable places to sit and relax. That said, I still had to take a long bus ride and then walk for a long time through the otherwise-abandoned T3 to go through US preclearance. Once you're...
Just departed through the new terminal this week. Absolutely fantastic compared to T3 and T1 (although I'll miss the brightly-colored donut that was T1). Passport control, bag drop, and security all seamless and took just 10 minutes. There were many comfortable places to sit and relax. That said, I still had to take a long bus ride and then walk for a long time through the otherwise-abandoned T3 to go through US preclearance. Once you're through that there are limited refreshment options, so best to delay that bus ride from the new terminal as long as you can.
For those of you who want to see a bit of real life footage from the terminal, you can watch the new Mission Impossible movie
Remind me to avoid connecting in Abu Dhabi when flying to the USA to avoid the bloody hassle of preclearance. No thank you.
What a colossal waste of money! The old terminal was just fine. Compare it to Newark.
Current lounges are terrible.... which is sad considering how great the onboard experience is.
Made me chuckle on the video that their stock audio had a United flight departing to Calgary on it... Impressive nonetheless
I thought something was wrong with my hearing when I heard Calgary
After a long wait, very happy to hear the opening of new terminal, in 2013 I was in the design team for this midfield project, we had done underground precast retaining wall.
I just flew Etihad and flying again in early 2024. The terminal looked ready and the lights were on. My US-bound flight in Early 2024 says "Terminal A" as a departure so hopefully the US-Immigration would be moved to Terminal A as well. Will see!
Heading through AUH in December so looking forward to checking out the new place!
Awesome! I'm flying Etihad for the first time and it happens to coincide with the transition (flying through the middle of it) so I'm interested to see what the new midfield terminal will be like Just a few more weeks to go until I find out then I guess
Finally!
I hope this means the end of the remote stands. I would miss the rotunda and the long walk from T3.
The pre-clearance would be interesting. I was told that for the time being only the daytime JFK and IAD flights would have it. Still at the same T3 facility and gates (possibly lounge too).
That rotunda is pretty awesome, isn't it? I never get tired of seeing it, despite the crowds. Paul Andreu, the man responsible for it sadly passed away in 2018.
“ If you have a connecting flight to the US and your flight has arrived in Terminal A, head to Gate F two hours before your connecting flight. This will allow ample time to board the shuttle bus and clear US immigration before you fly.”
Well, that’s a giant hassle. And a reason to choose another airport.
Why would they not have a US pre clearance in the new terminal? They had years to do and should have had this in place.
I think it has to do more with CBP rather than EY or the airport.
The US is not the centre of the world and the whole concept of pre-clearance is absurd. The US is the ONLY country in the world that has such a thing. Crazy!
@darryl - it didnt need to be there, but AUH/EY thought that having US CBP would be a huge incentive/ drive additional traffic to them versus other hubs, so the government of the UAE paid the US/CBG handsomly to open the facility there.
I'm not sure I understand your comment. Pre-clearance is extremely useful when entering the US given you'll have to go through US Immigration at some point. Takes the inevitable risk of standing in a queue for over an hour at JFK (as an example) off the table. Done it many times from Canada, the Caribbean, and Ireland. It's great when flying from Toronto to LaGuardia and stepping off the plane right into an Uber/Taxi. Whereas...
I'm not sure I understand your comment. Pre-clearance is extremely useful when entering the US given you'll have to go through US Immigration at some point. Takes the inevitable risk of standing in a queue for over an hour at JFK (as an example) off the table. Done it many times from Canada, the Caribbean, and Ireland. It's great when flying from Toronto to LaGuardia and stepping off the plane right into an Uber/Taxi. Whereas the same cannot be said when entering Canada from the US.
@darryl: Technically incorrect. While the US seems to be alone in offering airport preclearance, if you've ever taken Eurostar, you'd know that you clear French or Belgian immigration while still at St. Pancras terminal in London; and UK immigration at terminals in London, Amsterdam or Brussels.
And your anti-US sentiment shows an unhealthy level of self loathing, IMO.
I meant Paris, not London
Actually, I have taken Eurostar and I am ALREADY aware of that fact - however, this is OneMileAtATime and not OneTrainAtATime, so my comment was obviously in reference to the aviation sector.
And your little comment at the end shows an unhealthy level of self importance, IMO. Perhaps I missed the comment where someone asked for your opinion on the matter.
"Perhaps I missed the comment where someone asked for your opinion on the matter". Kind of ironic...
Darryl asked: "The US is not the centre of the world and the whole concept of pre-clearance is absurd."
A bit of history might help. During the 50s and 60s (the explosion of NA commercial aviation) there were many US domestic carriers who flew into Canadian cities close to the US Canada border. Instituting pre-clearance at these few airports in Canada effectively made them domestic airports to the US airlines. This eliminated the need...
Darryl asked: "The US is not the centre of the world and the whole concept of pre-clearance is absurd."
A bit of history might help. During the 50s and 60s (the explosion of NA commercial aviation) there were many US domestic carriers who flew into Canadian cities close to the US Canada border. Instituting pre-clearance at these few airports in Canada effectively made them domestic airports to the US airlines. This eliminated the need for these airlines to deal in any way with "foreign" flights.