With the soft launch of the New Doha International Airport – Hamad International Airport in progress, on the 27th May, the flag carrier – Qatar Airways – will move its operations from the current Doha International Airport.
Hamd International Airport – Image Qatar Airways
The airport is 4km away from the current Doha International Airport, which is built partially on reclaimed land. The airport will feature three main concourses, with the ability to handle 30 million passengers per year in its opening configuration, with 50 million passenger capability when to further concourses are open.
The airport will feature 138 check-in desks for the use of Qatar Airways and other airlines, 16 dedicated Qatar Business Class counters and 14 seated check in areas for Qatar First Class passengers.
In terms of gates, there will be 41 jetbridge/contact gates, with the number growing to 65 once the addition concourses open. These new gates will be able to handle Airbus A380s.
Currently, Air Arabia, Air India Express, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Flydubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Syrian Air, and Yemen Airways operate out of the new airport.
The next wave of carriers to move over to Hamad International Airport include: Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines and Royal Jordanian who will move over their operations on the 14th May.
All airlines are due to shift to the new airport by 27th May 2014.
Delays have been a feature of this new airport as it has struggled to come on-line, but it finally looks like the transition from old Doha to new Hamad is about to begin.