Crossroads of the world
Akanksha Maker lists services and facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport that make frequent travel easy
Icaught my connecting Áight to New York JFK from Abu Dhabi International Airport a couple of months ago. It was the Àrst time I was Áying to the US through the emirate. And so it came as a pleasant surprise when I could complete all necessary immigration and customs inspections prior to departure at the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Terminal 3 of the Abu Dhabi airport. This means, upon landing in the US, I was treated as a domestic traveller.
There are many such facilities and services at Abu Dhabi International Airport that make it convenient to business travellers in transit or otherwise. For instance, on deboarding the aircraft, I could easily connect to the airport’s free wiÀ.
REMOTE CHECK-IN
The airport has designated four self check-in kiosks around the city. The Àrst one — City Terminal — is located in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s business district, close to top international hotels. It oͿers early check-in and bag drop to passengers. Airlines including Etihad Airways, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways and Air India oͿer this facility at City Terminal. This check-in service is unavailable for US-bound passengers, those with special medical needs, unaccompanied minors and passengers with a staͿ ticket.
The other check-in kiosk is at Abu Dhabi Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC), which is the Àrst of its kind at an events space in the Gulf. This makes sense for corporate travellers attending events at ADNEC, as you can check-in your bags and freely enjoy the exhibition. Park Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi and Crowne Plaza in Abu Dhabi Yas Island also oͿer check-in kiosks for passengers Áying on Etihad Airways, Jet Airways and KLM.
A charge of AED 30/`523 per adult applies for remote checkin at City Terminal and the Abu Dhabi International Airport Expo. There is no charge for guests using self check-in kiosks at the Park Rotana Hotel and the Crowne Plaza, Yas Island though.
SMART TRAVEL
Abu Dhabi International Airport advocates smart travel, and this is apparent once you arrive at the airport. In February last year, it became the Àrst airport in the region to automate all passenger processes from check-in to boarding the aircraft. This Smart Travel system was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Abu Dhabi Police, signiÀcantly minimising human contact. Passengers can also move through immigration and security interacting only with innovative technology. It is known to decrease processing time within the airport by up to 70 per cent, allowing passengers to enjoy the various leisure facilities at the airport for longer durations such as duty free and F&B to name a few.
ACCOMMODATION
Being centrally located between east and west, Abu Dhabi International Airport is a hub for long haul travel. Around 80 per cent of the world’s destinations are within eight hours Áying time of the UAE capital. For its long haul travellers with ample transit time are two airport hotels — Aerotel and Premier Inn. Aerotel located in Terminal 1 has 52 rooms and oͿers free wiÀ, wake-up call and tea and coͿee making facilities. Room categories begin at XS and continue as S and M, which increase as per size. Prices begin at AED 290/`5,053 for an XS single room. Premier Inn has direct access to Terminals 1 and 3 via a retail corridor called Skypark. Rooms are equipped with free wiÀ and guests can access leisure facilities that include a gym and swimming pool.
RETAIL AND LUXE
There are several options for passengers who are crunched for time and have the shopping itch. Those with shorter layovers can shop online at addf.ae and have their goods ready for collection upon arrival in Abu Dhabi. The airport allows passengers to pre-order their items and have them kept ready for pick-up while departing the emirate.
And for those who wish to amplify the luxury quotient of their arrival into Abu Dhabi, the airport oͿers a host of “Meet & Assist” services. On arrival, an agent escorts you through fast-track immigration and passport control, retina scanning, customs and baggage collection. These are examples of what one could expect. Executives ensure you are well taken care of during departure or transit as well.
Those with long layovers here will not be disappointed with the array of well spread out premium lounges. Terminal 1 has Al Reem Lounge, Al Dhabi Lounge and Etihad Premium Lounge. Terminal 2 features Al Ghazal Lounge. Terminal 3 houses Etihad Airways’ three lounges — Etihad Diamond First Class Lounge and Spa, Etihad Premium Lounge and Etihad US Premium Lounge, while Arrivals Hall has Etihad Arrivals Lounge.
Etihad Diamond First and Pearl Business Class lounges have Six Senses Spa that oͿer express 15-minute treatments for quick rejuvenation. There is also a Tosa Spa at the Skypark Plaza (retail space) and at Terminal 1 too.
The second largest airport of the UAE, Abu Dhabi International Airport has over 30 airlines flying from here to around 100 destinations in 50 countries.