Abu Dhabi plans to set up a city terminal exclusively for economy class air passengers following the success of a similar facility for first and business class passengers.

Mohammed Khadem Al Hameli, the city terminal's manager, said the proposed economy class terminal will be part of the current facility but located elsewhere in the UAE capital.

He said the success of the current terminal has paved the way to several new initiatives.

The City Terminal was opened three years ago by Abu Dhabi as a new travel concept in Middle East air travel.

Located in the heart of the city, the terminal enables first and business passengers to check in their baggage and obtain their boarding cards before making the 40-kilometre trip to the airport in time to board their flights 35 minutes before departure, said Al Hameli.

The terminal handles first and business class passengers of 12 airlines.