ADAC makes high profile participation at airport show

"We are very happy to showcase at this important forum, which brings together the world leaders in airport construction and development industry.

"The Show offers a timely opportunity for us to network with the industry's best providers and to show what we have in store," said Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Chairman and Managing Director, ADAC, during his speech on the opening day.

Visitors to the exhibition will have a chance to view the Company's stand, a state-of-the-art design, modeled on a business lounge of a world-class airport, which allows them to catch a glimpse of the future plans of the expansion programs.

"We are heading fast to a crucial stage in our long-term plan to deliver value to our customers, both passengers and airlines alike, by transforming Abu Dhabi and Al Ain's airports into best-in-class facilities.

"We are improving our service level tremendously by introducing private sector operators to manage our non-core facilities, which are mutually beneficial for all parties concerned," said Al Mazrouei.

The ongoing redevelopment of Abu Dhabi International Airport is off to a crucial stage now, with interim expansions worth Dh. 300 million already in place and major infrastructural projects, including a second runway and a mega terminal, quickly coming out of the anvil.

"The ball is rolling really fast, work has already begun on a second runway. Construction of an interim terminal for the exclusive use of the national airliner, Etihad Airways, is due to begin in July. And a designer for the mega Midfield Terminal complex has been confirmed," commented Al Mazrouei.

On May 17th, the Company inked an AED one billion contract with Odebrecht- Al Jaber, a UAE-Brazilian joint venture to construct a 4,100 meter runway, spaced at a distance of 2,000 meters from the existing runway. Work on the category III, all-weather runway is to be completed by November 2007.

In June 2006, ADAC announced that it has selected Kohn Pederson Fox Associates "KPF" as the top finalist firm for appointment as the master architect for the Midfield Terminal Complex of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The London-based firm has been invited for further negotiations to put together a final deal. KPF has assembled a team of leading airport consultants, including the internationally-renowned Netherland Airport Consultants B.V. "NACO", and ARUP, to design the gateway terminal for the capital city, in the midfield between the existing runway and a second one to be built two kilometers to the north

The Midfield Terminal is projected to handle 20 million passengers per annum to the Airport's capacity when it comes on stream by 2010. That would mark the end of phase one of the redevelopment program. The facility's flexible and modular design will allow gradual expansion to an ultimate level of over 50 million passengers per annum.

The Airport's capacity has almost doubled to 6.8 million passengers since August 2005, following renovation and expansion of the main terminal and creation of a second one, just 900 meters away.

The second runway and the Midfield Terminal will significantly boost the Airport's capacity to cope with spiraling traffic, fuelled by major development projects and a rapid expansion of the Airport's home airline, Etihad Airways. Expanding at a record rate of one destination per month, the national Airline of the UAE has already spread its wings to 30 destinations and it plans to expand globally to 70 destinations by 2010.

Utilities and cargo facilities are set for a major upgrade. Construction of the central utilities complex and network will begin in September 2007 and should be over by October 2009.

The existing cargo facility is now operating at capacity; some 180,000 tons were processed in 2005. The upgrade measures are intended to increase the throughput capacity to approx. 300,000 tons to cope with the growth of Etihad Cargo. The improvements are achieved by providing additional cargo handling equipment to a new operational plan. Construction will begin next June and finish in January 2007.

The master plan envisions a marked growth of cargo handling capacity to well over two million tons. This would entail a major upgrade of the infrastructure to ensure an efficient operation that can keep pace with future requirements. New segments are being studied such as the storage of perishables, temperature-sensitive goods and valuables. The growth will cater to the expected spur as a result of a construction boom that is gaining momentum in the Emirate.

An air traffic control tower will rise to a height of 110 meters over the airfield. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art navigational and meteorological equipment to ensure the safe and timely arrival of aircraft at the new Midfield Terminal Complex. Controllers in the new tower will be able to handle up to 70 takeoffs and landings per hour. Design will begin in June 2006, while actual construction will begin four months later. The tower will go operational by April 2008.

"The challenges are high. You need to keep pace with a breath-taking urban boom. For an Emirate that is taking lead as one of the fastest growing economies in the region, the need for redevelopment of airport infrastructure and facilities can not be over emphasized," said Al Mazrouei.