Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) is in discussions to expand its influence outside the United Arab Emirates, according to chief executive Rudy Vercelli. The company, which owns and runs all the civil airports in Abu Dhabi, is working on several potential deals internationally. It could play an airport management role or become an investor, he says.
The ambitious company is also aggressively expanding its airport capacity at home, and is promoting Al Ain airport as a low-cost base. “We have pitched Al Ain to low-cost airlines over the past several months,” says Vercelli.
“We continue to place emphasis on the fact it is open for business today and we are encouraging airlines to come in and talk to us about it,” he says. Al Ain airport is a one-hour drive from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai and a little more than that to Muscat, the capital of Oman.
ADAC will however also welcome low-cost players at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which is undergoing a massive multi-billion dollar expansion. Later this year it will open the new $350 million Terminal 3, into which Etihad Airways will move. A second runway will also be operational by year-end, said Vercelli.
The “jewel in the crown” of the airport will be its new $6.8 billion midfield terminal project, a 40-45 million capacity hub that will open in 2011 or 2012, said Vercelli. The airport handled 7m passengers in 2007 and could easily handle 20m by the time the new terminal is ready.
Source: Flight International
