ETW Staff– Mumbai
Qatar Airways will officially move to its new home at Hamad International Airport (HIA), on May 27, 2014. Qatar Airways has been operating out of Doha International Airport for 17 years, and has grown from operating only a handful of aircraft regionally to today where it has 134 aircraft flying to 138 international destinations. Hamad International Airport had initially been expected to open in late 2009 but was hit by a series of delays.
HIA will offer passengers a new standard in international travel and help in supporting Qatar Airways as it continues to grow its operations through its continuous fleet and route expansion.
Akbar Al Baker, chief executive, Qatar Airways, said, “We have been planning for this day for a long time and May 27, 2014 will be a momentous day for both; the State of Qatar and Qatar Airways as we commence operations from Hamad International Airport. This airport will redefine the international traveller experience and set a new benchmark for airport excellence, and will enable Qatar Airways to offer our passengers an unrivalled experience.”
HIA is located four kilometres from the current Doha International Airport, and was built on land of which 60 per cent was reclaimed from the sea. The airport, which will operate Concourses A, B and C initially, will have the capacity to accommodate 30 million passengers annually upon opening and will redefine airport excellence. HIA will eventually accommodate 50 million passengers a year once Concourses D and E are opened and the airport is operating at full capacity.
The state-of-the-art facility features 138 check-in counters across five islands, comprising of 108 counters for Qatar Airways’ economy passengers and all other airlines; 14 seated check-in areas for Qatar Airways’ first class passengers; and 16 counters dedicated to Qatar Airways’ business class passengers.
In addition, HIA will operate 41 contact gates, which will increase to 65 once the airport opens Concourses D and E with six of the gates being fully dedicated to servicing the Airbus A380 aircraft, of which Qatar Airways has 13 on order with the first delivery expected in early June.
Following the soft opening of the airport on April 30th, ten airlines are already flying in and out including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, flydubai, Air Arabia, Iran Air, Air India Express, Yemenia, Pakistan International Airlines, Syrian Airlines, Pegasus Airlines and Nepal Airlines.
