Siemens successfully completes projects at Abu Dhabi International Airport

• First pre-clearance terminal in the Middle East runs on Siemens technology: Passengers to the USA can check their baggage through to their destination without further formalities
• Expansion of baggage handling systems in Terminals 1 and 3 completed
• Operation and maintenance contract for baggage and cargo renewed

Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions has equipped the first US pre-clearance terminal in the Middle East with a modern baggage handling system. In the facility adjacent to Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates Siemens’ new baggage handling system ensures full passenger convenience. Those traveling to the USA, not using the pre-clearance facility, must still reckon on lengthy delays to pursue the necessary immigration process on arrival. By using the pre-clearance facility, passengers on US bound flights clear immigration and customs at Abu Dhabi International Airport already. On arriving in the US they are treated as domestic passengers, which allows for a faster processing including the checking through of any baggage to their final destination.

Over recent years the responsible authority (Customs and Border Protection, CBP) has therefore set up pre-clearance facilities at an increasing number of airports outside the USA. Travelers can complete immigration formalities there before their flight takes off. Once passengers have successfully concluded the CBP controls, checking through of their baggage to their destination in the USA requires no further formalities. Up to now there have been just nine such facilities worldwide in Canada and the Bahamas, Bermuda and Ireland. With the development at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the US authority has implemented the first pre-clearance terminal in the Middle East.

In addition to the pre-clearance terminal Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions has successfully completed two more baggage handling projects for Abu Dhabi Airports. In the course of the Terminal 3 expansion, Siemens delivered and installed state-of-the-art baggage handling equipment for the new transfer baggage facility. In the arrival area of Terminal 1, Siemens modernized the baggage reclaim with five new incline carousels, new conveyor connections and the respective control system adaptations. The project was completed ahead of schedule and in time for the peak travel season.

Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions has also been contracted to continue their operation and maintenance services for the baggage handling systems in Terminals 1 and 3 and the cargo hub of Abu Dhabi Airports.

Thanks to its location at a nodal point between East and West, Abu Dhabi International Airport is among the most important air transport hubs in the Middle East. It was opened in 1982 to replace the old airport close to the city. A second terminal was inaugurated in September 2005, followed in January 2009 by a third. Passenger capacity has been boosted by the expansion of Terminals 1 and 3 to 18 million and is expected to grow in the coming years to 40 million a year.