Abu Dhabi International Airport has unveiled designs for a $6.8 billion expansion that will allow it to handle more than 40 million passengers, as compared to the current seven million.
Khalifa Al Mazrouei, chairman and managing director of the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), said at the Aviation Procurement Expo (Apex) that the expansion will make the airport AUH 'one of the world's most sophisticated' aviation gateways.'
The expansion will boost cargo capacity from 150,000 tonnes each year to two million tonnes.
The project includes construction of a second runway as well as two new terminals, an air traffic control complex and further expansion of cargo facilities.
The airport's second runway is under construction and is scheduled for completion by March 2008. The 4,100 metre-long all-weather runway will be able to handle wide-body aircraft, including the A380 superjumbo.
A third terminal with a capacity of five million passengers per year will be on line by 2008 and is designed to accommodate the growth of Etihad Airways until the inauguration of the Midfield Terminal in 2010.
This flagship terminal will bring the airport's overall capacity to 20 million passengers, which can then be further expanded gradually to 40 million to cope with future growth, Al Mazrouei said.
A new 110-metre high air traffic control complex, fitted with the latest navigational and meteorological equipment, is due to be operational by June 2008 and will enable the airport to handle up to 70 takeoffs and landings per hour.