It’s a big day for aviation in the UAE, as the first flight has operated today from Abu Dhabi Airport’s much anticipated new terminal. Over the next couple of weeks, we can expect all flights to transition to the new terminal. Let’s go over all the details, including what has made this project so complicated.
Continue reading: Now Open: Abu Dhabi Airport Midfield Terminal A
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Why would they not have a US pre clearance in the new terminal? They had years to do and should have had this in place.
“ If you have a connecting flight to the US and your flight has arrived in Terminal A, head to Gate F two hours before your connecting flight. This will allow ample time to board the shuttle bus and clear US immigration before you fly.”
Well, that’s a giant hassle. And a reason to choose another airport.
Finally!
I hope this means the end of the remote stands. I would miss the rotunda and the long walk from T3.
The pre-clearance would be interesting. I was told that for the time being only the daytime JFK and IAD flights would have it. Still at the same T3 facility and gates (possibly lounge too).
Awesome! I'm flying Etihad for the first time and it happens to coincide with the transition (flying through the middle of it) so I'm interested to see what the new midfield terminal will be like Just a few more weeks to go until I find out then I guess
That rotunda is pretty awesome, isn't it? I never get tired of seeing it, despite the crowds. Paul Andreu, the man responsible for it sadly passed away in 2018.
Heading through AUH in December so looking forward to checking out the new place!
I just flew Etihad and flying again in early 2024. The terminal looked ready and the lights were on. My US-bound flight in Early 2024 says "Terminal A" as a departure so hopefully the US-Immigration would be moved to Terminal A as well. Will see!
After a long wait, very happy to hear the opening of new terminal, in 2013 I was in the design team for this midfield project, we had done underground precast retaining wall.
Made me chuckle on the video that their stock audio had a United flight departing to Calgary on it... Impressive nonetheless
The US is not the centre of the world and the whole concept of pre-clearance is absurd. The US is the ONLY country in the world that has such a thing. Crazy!
What a colossal waste of money! The old terminal was just fine. Compare it to Newark.
@darryl - it didnt need to be there, but AUH/EY thought that having US CBP would be a huge incentive/ drive additional traffic to them versus other hubs, so the government of the UAE paid the US/CBG handsomly to open the facility there.
I'm not sure I understand your comment. Pre-clearance is extremely useful when entering the US given you'll have to go through US Immigration at some point. Takes the inevitable risk of standing in a queue for over an hour at JFK (as an example) off the table. Done it many times from Canada, the Caribbean, and Ireland. It's great when flying from Toronto to LaGuardia and stepping off the plane right into an Uber/Taxi. Whereas the same cannot be said when entering Canada from the US.
Remind me to avoid connecting in Abu Dhabi when flying to the USA to avoid the bloody hassle of preclearance. No thank you.
@darryl: Technically incorrect. While the US seems to be alone in offering airport preclearance, if you've ever taken Eurostar, you'd know that you clear French or Belgian immigration while still at St. Pancras terminal in London; and UK immigration at terminals in London, Amsterdam or Brussels.
And your anti-US sentiment shows an unhealthy level of self loathing, IMO.
Actually, I have taken Eurostar and I am ALREADY aware of that fact - however, this is OneMileAtATime and not OneTrainAtATime, so my comment was obviously in reference to the aviation sector.
And your little comment at the end shows an unhealthy level of self importance, IMO. Perhaps I missed the comment where someone asked for your opinion on the matter.
For those of you who want to see a bit of real life footage from the terminal, you can watch the new Mission Impossible movie
Darryl asked: "The US is not the centre of the world and the whole concept of pre-clearance is absurd."
A bit of history might help. During the 50s and 60s (the explosion of NA commercial aviation) there were many US domestic carriers who flew into Canadian cities close to the US Canada border. Instituting pre-clearance at these few airports in Canada effectively made them domestic airports to the US airlines. This eliminated the need for these airlines to deal in any way with "foreign" flights.
Current lounges are terrible.... which is sad considering how great the onboard experience is.
"Perhaps I missed the comment where someone asked for your opinion on the matter". Kind of ironic...
Just departed through the new terminal this week. Absolutely fantastic compared to T3 and T1 (although I'll miss the brightly-colored donut that was T1). Passport control, bag drop, and security all seamless and took just 10 minutes. There were many comfortable places to sit and relax. That said, I still had to take a long bus ride and then walk for a long time through the otherwise-abandoned T3 to go through US preclearance. Once you're through that there are limited refreshment options, so best to delay that bus ride from the new terminal as long as you can.
This Airport looks like it was built in the future and brought to 2023.
Amazing design, futuristic, everything looks so good, this is what you get when money is no object, absolutely brilliant, everything is amazing, not to forget Etihad staff and service in the plane was great. Lets get back to the airport, How did you guys build this, Wow. Masha ﷲ,
This Airport is the Best in the World Period. 21 November 2023