Saudis plan city terminal in Dammam

Inspired by the success of the City Terminal of Abu Dhabi Inter-national Airport, Saudi Arabia has initiated a study to set up a similar downtown facility for Dammam airport.

A Saudi Arabian aviation delegation recently visited the City Terminal in Abu Dhabi, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, to study the facility, said an official of Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Aviation.

He said the management of the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam had shown a keen interest in setting up a city terminal as the airport is some 37 kilometres from the city centre.

The delegation studied the procedures at Abu Dhabi City Terminal such as luggage check-in, transfer to the airport and the issuing of boarding cards.

The Saudi delegation included Abdulmohsen Al Sheikh, manager of airport operations at King Fahd International Airport, and Abdulrahman Al Balawi, manager of aviation planning and safety.

They also met Mohammed Al Hameli, manager of Abu Dhabi City Terminal, and other officials, and discussed support facilities at the terminal and the airport.

The delegation showed interest in ground handling by Abu Dhabi Airport Services, duty free, Department of Civil Aviation and police and security.

The City Terminal of Abu Dhabi airport was launched in June 1999. A brainchild of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Aviation, the terminal offers value-added service to people travelling from the capital's gateway to the world.

It offers advance check-in facilities for First and Business Class passengers of 12 airlines using the terminal. These airlines use the terminal and its services to attract more customers. Other airlines are also considering the service for their passengers.