AUH Midfield Terminal Opening
Jun 16, 20, 6:12 pm
#78
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,021
Originally Posted by pafnyc
Opening it during such a busy period seems silly. I would think they'd want it up and running well in advance?
Jun 17, 20, 4:17 am
#79
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Qatar Gold, flying Blue, Falcon, Lufthansa, Eva
Posts: 1,406
Originally Posted by SinkOrSwim
Exactly.
It's definitely not opening any time soon, and they will definitely want it open around Expo time. They won't want to lose face to Dubai.
It's definitely not opening any time soon, and they will definitely want it open around Expo time. They won't want to lose face to Dubai.
What when they have reduced their airline to a basket case and have already demonstrated that they manage in a timely manner the refurbishment of their first class lounge and now open a new terminal on time
Jul 5, 20, 12:07 pm
#80
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum; Accor Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 905
An interesting thought is that several people I know provided various kit like screens etc for the project in line with an earlier start date. All that kit is now out of date and equally out of Warranty, one wonders how wow factor it will have considering it was designed for 2017 wow rather than 2020 or even 2021 depending on when the doors finally open and whether they're redesigning loads of it on the fly?
Jul 5, 20, 1:44 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 7,541
If anything, the problem is that it's too wow for the level of demand - at least the physical building itself. It was designed for the time when EY thought it was on its way to catching up with EK. So much has happened since then.
No-one likes an overcrowded airport, but I have a feeling that it will be just too eerily empty when it does open. It's cavernous inside, and I think it's going to feel like the most stunning white elephant in recent history.
No-one likes an overcrowded airport, but I have a feeling that it will be just too eerily empty when it does open. It's cavernous inside, and I think it's going to feel like the most stunning white elephant in recent history.
Jul 8, 20, 6:46 am
#82
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by Dogmatick
An interesting thought is that several people I know provided various kit like screens etc for the project in line with an earlier start date. All that kit is now out of date and equally out of Warranty, one wonders how wow factor it will have considering it was designed for 2017 wow rather than 2020 or even 2021 depending on when the doors finally open and whether they're redesigning loads of it on the fly?
Jul 24, 20, 4:03 pm
#83
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 129
Wow - this says mid to late 2021. That seems incredible and wasteful on so many fronts.
https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-...to-2021/191280
https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-...to-2021/191280
Jul 25, 20, 12:49 pm
#84
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,431
Originally Posted by deltatrav
Wow - this says mid to late 2021. That seems incredible and wasteful on so many fronts.
https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-...to-2021/191280
https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-...to-2021/191280
Aug 22, 20, 1:37 pm
#86
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 708
My last business trip before Covid took me to Abu Dhabi, first time flyer with Etihad. I remembered flying earlier to Abu Dhabi with BA and the departure terminal - guess T1 - was rather dull (ok the lounge was ok) so I had higher expectations once flying out with their flag carrier.
I was expecting something like T3 in Dubai or the new Doha airport - but holy bamboly this terminal was bad. Starting with the check in experience which reminded me more on airports like Berlin Schoenefeld or the old airport in Doha.
I was flying out on the 15th of March and the only place which was open in the terminal was a sports bar with sticky tables. Was flying in Y without status so could not access the lounge.
Ironically, the middle east branch of my company was using a picture of the midfield terminal for client presentations when I was living in Dubai (that was in 2015) so I thought the thing must be done by now - oh well, I saw at least the construction site while departing. In any case I found it incredible that an airline which has such a good in flight product/ aircrafts operates out of such a dump.
I was expecting something like T3 in Dubai or the new Doha airport - but holy bamboly this terminal was bad. Starting with the check in experience which reminded me more on airports like Berlin Schoenefeld or the old airport in Doha.
I was flying out on the 15th of March and the only place which was open in the terminal was a sports bar with sticky tables. Was flying in Y without status so could not access the lounge.
Ironically, the middle east branch of my company was using a picture of the midfield terminal for client presentations when I was living in Dubai (that was in 2015) so I thought the thing must be done by now - oh well, I saw at least the construction site while departing. In any case I found it incredible that an airline which has such a good in flight product/ aircrafts operates out of such a dump.
