HB7

I hope you're right. I'd love to see the new terminal soon.

deltatrav

Seems logical/necessary. If Expo begins 1Oct, it would seem that the terminal must open by 1Aug at the latest? If it was ready enough for human trials in late 2019 I can't imagine they have much left to do

HB7

I still think it would be wise for the UAE and Dubai governments looking at moving this to 2022 as it doesn't seem likely that this even will run at even 15-20% of capacity.

SinkOrSwim

Having flown over the new Midfield Terminal a couple of weeks ago, and seeing what an absolute mess it looks from the sky, I don't even think it's going to open this year now.....

Dogmatick

Speaking to a friend very much in the know of the airline and of Airport function, the airline is sadly in freefall and the airport is the absolute white elephant we all know it to be and no one but no one is in any rush to open it and look even more silly when they've got whizz air arabia and etihad in there. The only hopes will be to entice US carriers back to use the preclearance facilities

General thoughts are that it is going to taken to a point and work will halt again sadly, would have loved to see it though. Another work contact supplied all the screens being used through out the terminal for messaging and advertising etc thousands of them, all are now out of warranty and they've never even really been turned on in anger and will likely need replacing before the opening as wont remotely have any wow factor as they would have in 2017 to a 2015 spec

amnicoll

They may not have been used in anger but why on earth would they need replacing ?

Dogmatick

Required capabilities for modern advertising and promotions etc plus warranty based issues, I understood that all items need to be under warranty and these won't be any longer

SinkOrSwim

I've heard the same about the escalators - they were ordered years ago, and left to get battered by the local heat and dust and are now unusable.

m0hamed

Perhaps it will never open. How incredibly sad…

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2021/07/05/abu-dhabi-cancels-contract-on-gigantic-multi-billion-dollar-new-airport-reports/

stargold

They did terminate the main construction contract but I think it's more of a strategic move rather than indicating an intention never to open.

NoY

It will open. Eventually. Even the UAE wouldn't just "trash" it..

amnicoll

I would have to agree with this a pity they trashed the airline though and I am unlikely to see it as a result

NoY

Yes it is, relatively speaking, a shadow of its former self but as I have well over 100k points left (& a Gold Card) I will use them to burn the points - & perhaps take the occasional well priced paid flight. Quite when that will be though is entirely another matter!

Dogmatick

Agreed such a shame that when it opens it will be not nearly as big a thing as they would have hoped and likely corners cut where they would not have been before

amnicoll

was gold card (no idea what it is now) I used up my miles upgrading long ago and have not flown Etihad since. A pity because they were superb - sure they made to odd mistake and the loyalty scheme was one of the best in my experience of being able to get enough miles to upgrade. I particularly miss the excellent lounge at Manchester and the brilliant staff there