AUH Midfield Terminal and EY Lounge plans?

[SYD]

The last I heard, the new midfield terminal might actually open before year end (after at least 2 yrs delay).

Any more up to date status?

Also, has anyone seen what is planned for new EY lounge facilities? You’d think they might be a bit more special than existing ones. The current 1st Lounge is nice but created as an afterthought when the original was too small. The J Lounge when it opened was a vast improvement but usually very crowded.

 

[Colesmore]

I'm also keen to learn when it opens. It's agony taxiing past it lit up beautifully to then park at a remote stand and watch F lounge time slip away. Have had a bit of a hunt online but can't seem to find anything from the last few months. I'm guessing they wouldn't be keeping it quiet so 2020 looking likely, hopefully with everything functioning!

 

[SYD]

Yes, the lack of anything recent online is odd. Perhaps their PR team learnt from the BER fiasco? I was due to fly out of BER in April 2012...

 

[pangwen]

An article online from earlier this month suggests it might be late next year: Abu Dhabi's multi-billion dollar airport likely to open in 2020: sources

A pity, I am scheduled to fly through AUH in early Jan 2020

 

[pangwen]

Another article from a few days ago (26/11) quoting the "Chief Programmes Officer" at Abu Dhabi Airports which confirms that the opening has indeed been pushed to 2020: Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal more than 97 per cent completed

Abu Dhabi: An opening date for Abu Dhabi’s Midfield Terminal will be announced next year, with the massive 742,000 square metre terminal now more than 97 per cent completed, said senior officials from Abu Dhabi Airports in the capital on Tuesday.
“The current progress of the terminal building; we’re about 97 per cent complete [and] we are focusing right now on testing and commissioning,” said Sulaiman Al Siksek, acting chief programmes officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, on the sidelines of the ACI (Airport Council International) Airport Exchange. “We are also working with our colleagues in operations and all the airport users on operational readiness trials. These activities are currently getting quite advanced, we expect more advanced trials towards the end of this year and early next year,” he added.

“Once we are confident with these trials and airport users are ready; we will announce an opening day,” he said.

 

[AIRwin]

Gavin McKechnie departs ADAC as Midfield Terminal opening is pushed back to 2021

Prominent industry figure, Gavin McKechnie, has left his post as Senior Vice President, Commercial at Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC), after returning to the company just two years ago. He completed his initial four-year term between 2012 and 2016. The news of McKechnie’s departure follows a chaotic...

www.trbusiness.com

 

[SYD]

Gavin McKechnie departs ADAC as Midfield Terminal opening is pushed back to 2021

Prominent industry figure, Gavin McKechnie, has left his post as Senior Vice President, Commercial at Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC), after returning to the company just two years ago. He completed his initial four-year term between 2012 and 2016. The news of McKechnie’s departure follows a chaotic...

www.trbusiness.com

I saw that article on the weekend and meant to post with the quote of mid to late 2021 (put down to COVID 19 delays).

But still no commentary on lounge arrangements. Not that many of us will be passing through anytime soon.

 

[SYD]

Wow, the mid-field terminal has been CANCELLED!

Abu Dhabi Airport cancels US$3bn terminal project after 10 years

The huge 742,000 square meter terminal was originally designed to open for business in 2017, however, the project was delayed numerous times.

worldofaviation.com

I guess not too many of us still will be passing through any time soon but it’s pretty hard to miss the silver elephant in the sand….

 

[RooFlyer]

Ah .. it appears to say that the main contract/ contractor has been terminated. Doesn't really say the entire terminal has been cancelled - like you say, there would be a rather obvious monument to failure if they did!

 

[moa999]

It sounds like they've kicked a few people off the project and others are finishing it

 

[serfty]

It sounds like they've kicked a few people off the project and others are finishing it

Likely to be the case:

Articles | Digitpatrox

digitpatrox.com

Two sources mentioned Abu Dhabi-headquartered Trojan had been awarded the contract to complete the terminal’s development.

Abu Dhabi Airports cancels $2.94bn AUH terminal deal

The state-owned operator of Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has reportedly cancelled a $2.94bn (AED10.8bn) contract.

www.airport-technology.com

In 2012, a consortium comprising local company Arabtec, Turkey’s TAV Insaat and Greek firm Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) secured the contract to build the Midfield Terminal Building at AUH.

Initially, the terminal was scheduled to open in 2017 but since then suffered several delays. Another source told the news agency that Abu Dhabi Airports has contracted local firm Trojan to complete the remaining construction works.

However, Abu Dhabi Airports did not confirm the development.

 

[SYD]

It will be interesting see/hear what actually needs to be done if it was supposedly ~97+ % complete?

Mind you, BER was supposedly 99.9% complete and shops/concessions had already started moving from Tegel for opening day before they realised the fire suppression system wasn’t fit for purpose!

 

[AIRwin]

New Terminal A opening:

Welcome to Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new Terminal A

Terminal A will open to the public in November, bringing a new world-class facility to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Covering 742,000 square metres it is one of the largest airport terminals in the world, capable of processing 11,000 passengers per hour.

www.adairports.ae

 

[SYD]

New Terminal A opening:

Welcome to Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new Terminal A

Terminal A will open to the public in November, bringing a new world-class facility to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Covering 742,000 square metres it is one of the largest airport terminals in the world, capable of processing 11,000 passengers per hour.

www.adairports.ae

Alas, I’ve not flown EY since early 2019. But hopefully they open some nice swish lounges for those who do!

 

[RooFlyer]

Rats. I opened the link and briefly thought that the 'new' terminal was open ... alas no ... still November.

I have a long transit there in 3 weeks which probably means the old terminal will be in the worst possible state amid transfers of stuff.

 

[Thibault]

Rats. I opened the link and briefly thought that the 'new' terminal was open ... alas no ... still November.

I have a long transit there in 3 weeks which probably means the old terminal will be in the worst possible state amid transfers of stuff.

It's business as usual.


Passed through AUH twice in August & September - F lounge has not changed and the J lounge in T3 seems to have new chairs by the looks of it (they looked newer than what I remember) but that's pretty much it.

 

[jase05]

I really like the F lounge so hopefully it isn’t “enhanced” for the new terminal

 

[SYD]

I really like the F lounge so hopefully it isn’t “enhanced” for the new terminal

I’d actually hope there’s an even better F Lounge! The MFT is huge - that was the point of this thread (see post #1).

 

[jase05]

I’d actually hope there’s an even better F Lounge! The MFT is huge - that was the point of this thread.

Absolutely I’d love an even better one but you know how these things turn out sometimes

 

[SYD]

This suggests the F Lounge will be a seperate part of the new Terminal A premium lounge.

Etihad will soon open its largest-ever lounge at Abu Dhabi

November sees the Gulf carrier begin flights at Abu Dhabi’s new Midfield Terminal, and a mega-lounge awaits.

www.executivetraveller.com