Abu Dhabi abu dhabi international airport · Abu Dhabi International Airport
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Abu Dhabi International Airport
Abu Dhabi International Airport
Abu Dhabi International Airport (IATA: AUH, ICAO: OMAA) is the UAE's second busiest airport (after Dubai) and the home base of Abu Dhabi's flag carrier Etihad . Launched in 2003, Etihad Airways has been expanding rapidly and now flies everywhere from the United States to Australia, and its services (particularly on long-haul flights) are remarkably good in all classes.
Pakistan International Airlines PIA has flights from all major cities of Pakistan to and from Doha.
The airport is separated into Terminal 1 (the original terminal) and Terminal 3 (a new terminal dedicated to Etihad Airways).
Terminal 1 provides a slightly dingy appearance and a spectacularly bizarre blue-lime tiled mushroom canopy that awaits you at the gates. The airport itself is quite well-maintained and has duty-free shopping. However, it can get a little overcrowded at peak hours around midnight. The airport is currently undergoing a major expansion which in early 2011 is still underway. Picking up luggage is also quite easy, although, be forewarned that airport personnel may remove a flight's bags from the carousel and stack them in a pile next to it, as the airport has few baggage carousels.
Terminal 3 is much newer and has improved shopping and gate access. It is noted that Etihad flights to and from the US utilize the older terminal.
A midfield terminal has been planned for many years.
To/from the airport:
Al Ghazal taxis travel to the city at a flat rate of Dhs 75 and take around 40 minutes.
Metered taxis are now allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. A trip into Abu Dhabi city center will cost between Dhs 60 and Dhs 70. Metered taxis can also bring passengers to the airport. The taxi stand is at the end of a long walkway from the main terminal. Passengers must turn left when leaving the arrivals area and travel through a long passageway to the curb area, where a covered platform next to the taxi stand is provided. Expect long lines at the taxi stand during the evening and late night hours.
Public bus route 901 also heads to the city every 30-45 minutes 24 hours a day, and costs just Dhs 3. This leaves from outside T3: Go to the lower level and spot the Etihad busses right in front of you. Just 10 metres on the right is a sign saying "Bus Stop". The Etihad bus and the public bus use the same bus stops, the public bus will just stop as the very first one of the line. Be warned, that airport information may say that there is no public bus, and to take a taxi. The bus used to depart from the upper level but due to traffic it was changed to the lower level. The terminus in the city is Al Ittihad Square bus station, next to the British Embassy.
If you are flying on Etihad, complimentary shuttle buses are provided at regular intervals to Dubai. Etihad does not go to the Abu Dhabi city centre. These depart from the main car park at the front of the airport, by the car hire offices.
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Abu Dhabi Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.