I remember when Singapore’s Changi Airport topped the charts as the world’s best layover destination. It had fast check-in, an outdoor pool, spas for everyone, elegant lounges, and Jewel, an incredible complex (especially for long layovers) where you could eat, shop, and relax among palm trees, a butterfly garden, and a giant waterfall.
Today, however, there’s an airport that excels in innovation: Abu Dhabi International Airport, which has undergone a £2.3 billion transformation to add an entirely new terminal and will be known as Zayed International from February.
With just one terminal, it’s easy to navigate, with a spacious entrance, plenty of check-in counters, self-check-in kiosks and baggage storage for all 28 airlines that use it.
Even on a busy day, such as 24 hours after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, security is reached in less than two minutes.
One of the most interesting innovations is that all passengers can register their face as identification and use it for check-in and security checks at departures and arrivals without having to show their passport.
With this method, you don’t have to take anything out of your carry-on either. My laptop, iPad and liquids go through security in less than a minute.
All this time saved allows me to visit the outdoor patio or one of the airport’s spas.
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