Tag Archives: Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has put in place a range of initiatives that will ensure the smooth and safe passage of pilgrims through the airport during the forthcoming Hajj season. Among these are measures to safeguard pilgrims’ health and security. In order to handle the four extra Etihad Airways’ flights (chartered specifically for Hajj), along with Saudi Arabian Airlines’ scheduled flights to Mecca and Medina, dedicated check-in counters have been put in place. Opposite these counters, space has been allocated to the Ministry of Health to provide pilgrims with personal Hajj kits and safety booklets, and a fully equipped Hajj clinic has been established in Terminal 1 to tackle any emergency diagnosis or treatment of pilgrims, should the need arise. In collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE), several Mufties will be available at the airport to assist pilgrims, attend to their queries, and advise them on religious and Hajj matters. In addition, AUH has worked closely with all its stakeholders such as airport police, Immigration and Customs departments, to provide a hassle-free airport experience for all passengers. Pilgrims will also be offered free food and beverage vouchers to enjoy at Abu Dhabi Duty Free while they wait to board their flights to Saudi Arabia. The airport is also implementing special arrival procedures to handle pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia with Zamzam water. Mohammed Al Katheeri, Acting Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports said: “It is an honor to provide support to pilgrims as they embark upon their journey from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Saudi Arabia. Hajj is a highly significant occasion that can also be physically demanding. We hope that the measures …

Abu Dhabi Airports marked an increase in passenger traffic by 7.9 per cent at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) for July 2016 compared to the same month last year. The month recorded 2,267,572 passengers travelling through the airport, exceeding last July’s figure of 2,100,929. Total arrivals at the airport were up by 10.4 per cent at a figure of 1,074,022 in July, with departure numbers also increasing by 6.1 per cent at a total figure of 1,180,504. As for the local arrivals, specifically arrivals to Abu Dhabi excluding transfer and transit, July witnessed numbers rise by 15.9 per cent whilst local departures grew by 1.8 per cent. Arrival and departure transfers have both shown an increase of 8.0 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively compared to July 2015. Eid and summer holidays were important factors in the increase in these figures. The top city destinations from Abu Dhabi were London, Bangkok, Doha, Bombay and Manila respectively, representing 16 per cent of the total traffic registered at the airport in July. Traffic to India has recorded a significant increase of 15.6 per cent in July, whilst traffic to the UK grew by 7.7 per cent. The traffic to Australia has risen by 28.1 per cent, while traffic to the USA has also gone up by 17.2 per cent. The US pre-clearance facility available at AUH has been a significant contributor to that growth.

Abu Dhabi Airports has released figures for passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), for the first half of 2016. Total traffic for January to June reached 11,848,359, million passengers, representing a 6.6 per cent increase from the 11,111,577 in the first six months of 2015. The number of people passing through Terminal 1 saw the largest increase, reaching 4,790,469 — a 22 per cent growth from 3,918,322 in 2015. The most popular destination in June was Mumbai. There was a 26 per cent rise in traffic to the Indian destination compared to the same month last year, with figures up from 55,991 to 70,312. Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, incorporated the Indian city to its A380 service earlier this year in May. Traffic to and from Doha and Jeddah both grew by 12 per cent in June, with passengers increasing from 53,912 to 60,395, and 52,342 to 58,816, respectively. Abdul Majeed Al Khoori, Acting CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports, said that January and March have been the busiest period for Abu Dhabi International Airport in the first half of the year, with passenger traffic crossing two million in both of these months. They are encouraged by the figures from the six months of 2016, which demonstrate continued growth year-on-year. Consistent increases in passenger traffic are to be expected given Abu Dhabi’s status as an international hub for commerce and tourism, as well as being a bustling transit point.

Etihad Airways has announced plans to increase Airbus A380 service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport in response to heightened demand from guests traveling between the two destinations.  Beginning on June 1, 2017, the airline will upgrade its second flight between Abu Dhabi and New York JFK to its award-winning A380 aircraft which features The Residence, the only three-room suite available in commercial airline operation, and its award-winning First Apartment cabins. The new service will join the airline’s existing daily A380 service, replacing the current daily Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Etihad Airways first began welcoming guests on board its first A380 flight between New York JFK and Abu Dhabi in November 2015.

Designed to further enhance the passenger experience at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi Duty Free has launched its website, www.ADDF.ae, to enable travellers to browse and shop online from wherever they are, prior to their arrival at the airport. Products are available for guests departing, arriving, or transiting through the airport, and those who are using the exclusive VIP terminal. The online store, which initially offers around 1000 of the most popular products varying from beauty, fragrances, food and confectionery, to jewelry, sunglasses, watches, souvenirs, and toys, will allow passengers to select their desired items online and pick them up from designated collection points conveniently located inside Abu Dhabi Duty Free. Online orders can be made between two weeks and up to four hours before a flight. By using the website passengers will be able to shop efficiently and spend more time enjoying the other facilities on offer at the airport. Abu Dhabi Duty Free is offering a 5 per cent discount on all online orders for first time users. For passengers who do not yet have a confirmed date of travel they can shop and create a “Wish List”. The “Wish List” is accessible to registered users and will allow them to keep their items for later when their trip is booked. Duty free shopping at AUH rose 7 per cent in 2015 despite the global slowdown of the retail market.