The
State of Qatar is ready to welcome a new chapter in the country’s
remarkable aviation industry with preparations well underway for the
April 1 first phase opening of the new Hamad International Airport to
be operated by national carrier Qatar Airways.
Details
of the soft launch opening were unveiled to an audience of more than
100 airport officials and airline executives in Doha today at an
event jointly organised by Qatar Airways, the Hamad International
Airport’s Operational Readiness and Airport Transition (ORAT) team
and Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA).
QCAA
Chairman H. E. Abdul Aziz Al Noiami, spelled out the plans for the
airport’s readiness, in which Qatar Airways will play a pivotal
role.
The
first phase of the US$15.5 billion project involves 12 international
passenger airlines becoming the launch carriers of the new facility
from April 1. These include low-cost airlines.
Qatar
Airways will move its entire operations to Hamad International
Airport in the second half of the year. Until recently, the airport
was known under the project working name New Doha International
Airport (NDIA).
Qatar
Airways will work closely with the first movers to ensure a smooth
transition of flights
from the current Doha International Airport.
With
the phased approach, Doha will have a dual airport operation until
full operations begin at Hamad International in the second half of
2013.
From
March, freight
forwarders and agents in Qatar will process
import and export consignments at Hamad International Airport. Cargo
uplift and arrivals will remain at Doha International Airport from
where shipments will be transported by road to the new facility.
Cargo
flights operated by Qatar Airways and other freighter companies are
expected to begin to and from Hamad International from the summer.
Hamad
International Airport will accommodate 28 million passengers annually
when it opens this year, increasing to 50 million beyond 2015.
