Abu Dhabi upgrades baggage handling system to manage expansion

Plans to upgrade the baggage handling system at Abu Dhabi International Airport have been announced forming part of capacity expansion initiatives to improve operational efficiency.

The airport’s capacity expansion initiatives, delivered in cooperation with Siemens, are designed to increase Abu Dhabi International’s capacity whilst improving overall operational efficiency and ensuring it is able to manage future growth. In 2017, an estimated 30 million passengers are expected to use the airport which currently serves 103 destinations in 56 countries.

New baggage conveyor lines and a fully automated hold baggage screening system, along with explosives trace detection equipment (ETD) is being deployed at the airport’s Terminal 1.  This new system replaces the current manual screening in the lobby of Terminal 1 and Terminal 1A, freeing up space in the terminal entrance for departing passengers, and new retail facilities.

Terminal 3 will also see a number of upgrades including the doubling of check-in capacity and expansion of the baggage sorting areas.

“The upgrade to the baggage handling system is another key initiative being completed to ensure efficient flight operations and convenient passenger experience.”

Eng. Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Abu Dhabi Airports has been closely monitoring passenger growth at Abu Dhabi International Airport and implementing development plans that will cater for the increase in traffic. The upgrade to the baggage handling system is another key initiative being completed to ensure efficient flight operations and convenient passenger experience. Abu Dhabi Airports is working closely with Siemens to make sure that normal airport operations continue to run as smoothly as usual with minimal disruption to people traveling. This project is scheduled for completion in early 2016.”

Work has already been carried out by Siemens to deliver a new transfer baggage facility at Terminal 3 and the installation of a baggage handling system for the first US pre-clearance terminal in the Middle East.