Upgrade of airfield lighting system completed at Abu Dhabi Airport

Abu Dhabi Airports – the owner and operator of five airports in the state – has announced the successful completion of an upgrade to the airfield lighting system along the Southern Runway at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). The airport joins a select group of international airports to have implemented the advanced technology.

The new state-of-the-art technology has been integrated with the air traffic control (ATC) systems of the Southern Runway, while upgrade works to install a CAT-IIIB system on the Northern Runway continue to progress.

Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, Bryan Thompson, said: “The upgrade of the Southern Runway is the result of our commitment to ensuring safe, secure and efficient operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport. This enables us to provide our customers with exceptional service and a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience. Our efforts on and off the tarmac are centred around our desire to transform the experience we offer our customers through enhancing our operations, growing our network, and expanding our leisure and entertainment offerings.”

The upgrade, combined with other technical updates to the airport’s Airfield Lighting Control Monitoring System (ALCMS), enhances Abu Dhabi International Airport’s ability to continue operations in low visibility conditions. With Abu Dhabi City experiencing up to 15 days of forecast low visibility each year, the lighting upgrades will significantly mitigate the risk of any interruptions to flight schedules, leading to less aircraft diversions and a smoother travel experience for all passengers arriving, departing or transiting through the airport.

As a result, the upgrade of the airfield lighting system tackles the rising cost of flight diversions – a priority for Abu Dhabi Airports and its partner airlines – which can amount to two million dirhams per diversion, including extra expenditures on fuel, transport and accommodation, as well as the increased emissions due to the longer flight path. 

The implementation of the upgraded lighting system also complements Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to sustainability, and the UAE civil aviation industry’s move toward improving fuel efficiency through reducing the fuel consumption of ultra-long haul aircraft as a result of diversions.