Abu Dhabi Airport’s City Terminal closed permanently

Abu Dhabi International Airport’s City Terminal has closed for the last time.

The terminal, which offered check-in near the Abu Dhabi Mall in the UAE capital, was permanently closed the morning of October 3.

“The closure of the terminal falls in line with Abu Dhabi International Airport’s commitment to providing passengers with a streamlined and comfortable experience that allows passengers departing from the airport easy access to their flights and onward destinations,” said an airport statement about the closure.

Passengers were encouraged to check-in for flights directly at the airport, or to visit the check-in kiosks at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.

Abu Dhabi’s Dhs10bn Midfield Terminal is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2019. The exact date of opening has not yet been revealed.

When the terminal does open, it will have 5G public wifi – making it the first “5G connected hub” in the region – and will also have services such as autonomous wheelchairs.

READ: Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad launch trial of autonomous wheelchairs

Spanning 742,000 square metres, the terminal will be able to handle more than 8,500 people per hour and will increase the airport’s capacity to 45 million passengers a year.

The terminal, which will be one of the region’s largest, will also have a baggage handling system that can process almost half a million bags a day.