On 9 February 2024, the Abu Dhabi Airport was officially named the Zayed International Airport. Abu Dhabi Airport is the second busiest airport in the UAE after the Dubai International Airport. Last year, President Sheikh Mohamed announced the intention of changing the name of the Abu Dhabi Airport to Zayed International Airport. So, what is the story behind the new name?

The Abu Dhabi Airport to Zayed International Airport:

The Abu Dhabi Airport, now known as Zayed International Airport, is the hub of Etihad Airways, the UAE’s second flag carrier. According to official statements, the new name is after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as an honour for his legacy.

The Launching Event:

The event of unveiling the new name of the Abu Dhabi Airport, Zayed International Airport, was attended by key shareholders. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor of Special Affairs at the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Airports’ Board of Directors was one of the attendees. During the event, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for giving them this great honour and entrusting them with carrying forward the name of the founding father. He stated “We are immensely proud to rename Abu Dhabi’s largest airport in honour of the Founding Father of the UAE. The unsurpassed achievements of the late Sheikh Zayed in connecting our country to nations around the world have inspired our commitment to ensuring that Abu Dhabi further strengthens its position as a world-leading hub for travel, trade, and commerce.” The event coincided with the official opening of the airport’s Terminal A. So, what is the now about Terminal A?

Terminal A:

As the home base of the flag carrier Etihad Airways and the world’s top airport operator at The World Travel Awards, a new terminal with modern equipment is needed. Though it was officially opened on February 9th 2024, Terminal A was operated at the end of 2023. The first commercial flight from Terminal A departed on October 31, 2023, an Airbus A350-1000. Terminal A is 742,000 square meters, including 35,000 square metres of retail and F&B space, and 163 outlets for passengers to eat and drink and enjoy their time while waiting for their flights. However, Because of the big re-name event, Etihad Airways and Zayed International Airport have presented some offers for their dear customers to celebrate this event.

Offers for You?

In light of the celebration of this happy event, the Zayed International Airport will be hosting several celebrations for travellers, from Friday, February 9 to Sunday, February 11. This includes discounts and special offers on duty-free, in restaurants, cafes and shops. As an expression of happiness for this re-name event, Etihad Airways has launched special offers for its travellers from February 9 to 14. 

Sources:

Wikipedia