Abu Dhabi Airports Company says Thales will fit out Abu Dhabi International Airport's new air traffic control centre tower (ATCC). With the construction of the tower already underway and due for completion in 2009, Thales will start integrating the systems and command center over the coming year. ADAC Chairman and Managing Director Khalifa Al Mazrouei said: "We look forward to Thales delivering this contract which will help us take a further step in our quest to become a world class gateway airport". The Thales systems will integrate the most advanced ATM automation features needed for world leading air traffic control as well as airport ground control systems and aeronautical information systems (AIS) and messages switching (AFTN/AMHS). The new tower will be situated in between the existing and the new second runway, which went operational on 12 October 2008, and will take over the role as the nerve centre of the new airport development from the existing tower that stands over Terminal 1.