ADAC takes part in two aviation shows in Dubai

The Business Travel Show, taking place at the Madinat Jumeriah Arena, Dubai, during October 29-30, 2007, will showcase the finest business travel products and services from the world's leading travel suppliers.

ADAC's Head of Marketing Department, Mr. Peter Hoslin, said: "It is a good opportunity to show the great advantages available for those who choose to travel through Abu Dhabi International Airport, which has been gaining mounting recognition as one of the most attractive hubs in the region following extensive service improvements and the introduction of new direct flights over the last year."

The year 2006 saw Abu Dhabi Airport clinching two prestigious awards by the Airports Council International (ACI). The awards, based on annual feedback of international passengers, confirmed ADIA as the best Airport in Africa and the Middle East in terms of service quality, courtesy, and customer service.

This year, the Airport has been recognized as the provider of the best-in-class baggage handling service in the world. In a worldwide passenger survey by Skytrax Research, released in August 2007, Abu Dhabi emerged as the world's best airport in the "Baggage Delivery" category. The award reinforced the image of ADIA as a passenger-friendly hub offering short processing time, short walking distances, efficient service, and world-class amenities..

ADAC is a titanium sponsor of the Global World Class Airports Forum, to be held during October 30-31. ADAC's Chairman and Managing Director, H.E. Khalifa Al Mazrouei, will update the senior aviation industry executives who will attend the event on the progress of the multi-billion redevelopment programme of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The Chairman's update will highlight progress of construction work on Terminal 3, an interim facility that will bring in an additional capacity of five million passengers per year. He will also cite progress in the second runway and the new air traffic control complex, both of which are scheduled for completion during the first half of 2008, as well as in the Midfield Terminal Complex, the centre piece of the expansion programme which will boost the airport's overall capacity to 20 million passengers by 2010.

Recent statistics show consistent growth in passenger traffic. In 2006, the Airport handled a total of 5.3 million passengers. In the first half of 2007, traffic crossed the three million mark, a 27 per cent rise from the 2.414 million passengers handled in the first half of 2006. In the same period aircraft movements increased 7% to 39,300.

A major driver of this growth has been the expansion of Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates and one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Since the inaugural flight in November 2003, the airline has increased the number of destinations it flies to, adding at least one route each month. It currently flies to 45 destinations across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. The latest additions in 2007 included Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Dublin, Milan, and Brisbane, with Singapore and China to follow.

Besides Etihad, other airlines are being attracted to Abu Dhabi. The latest were Oman Airways which commenced services to Abu Dhabi in May 2007, and Ethiopian Airlines which commenced in July 2007.

These airlines are taking advantage of Abu Dhabi's strategic location. "Abu Dhabi Airport is ideally located to serve the entire UAE market, being just 25 minutes drive to Abu Dhabi City centre and 45 minutes to south Dubai on world-class, congestion-free highways," said Mr. Hoslin.

Yet, the convenient location is just one factor attracting travelers and airlines to Abu Dhabi Airport. Other great advantages for travelers, particularly business travelers, include short processing time, short walking distances, efficient service, and world-class amenities.

Passengers are finding travel through Abu Dhabi Airport conveniently fast, easy, and efficient. An extensive collection of facilities and amenities, combined with a relaxing atmosphere and great duty free shopping, ensures that passengers can enjoy their time while waiting for their flight.

The list of improvements introduced in the past year included an indoor taxi queue system, free internet and TV zones, wifi internet access, dedicated smoking areas, new directory signs, and dedicated pre-check-in security points for premium passengers.

"It doesn't stop here," says Mr. Hoslin. "We are determined to provide our passengers with the ultimate travel experience, from the highway to the plane, and more improvements are underway, including an almost doubling of terminal capacity with the opening of the new Terminal 3 in the middle of 2008."