Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) this week marked seven successful years of its operation, catering to more than 200 million passengers and 13 million tonnes of cargo and is consistently rated as one of the top airports in the world.
By leveraging its geographical location at the crossroads of East and West, and utilising innovative resources to deliver seamless and efficient airport operations, HIA has constantly proven to be the airport-of-choice for global travellers which has been recognised by prestigious industry institutions over the years.
Testament to its growth, Qatar’s airport is undertaking a multi-phased expansion to strengthen its position as a global hub, accommodate the growth of Qatar’s national carrier, Qatar Airways, said the statement from HIA.
In the last year, HIA has adapted and innovated to meet the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The airport’s agile and effective response ensured HIA kept its doors open during the severity of the pandemic, connecting passengers to their homes, all the while maintaining its operational excellence and prioritising the safety and well-being of its staff and passengers.
Owing to the gradual lifting of travel restrictions globally and the reopening of borders around the world, air travel numbers are now slowly increasing.
The most significant increase at HIA is in passenger traffic, which observed a 381% increase from April 2020 to April 2021, with 976,292 passengers travelling through Qatar’s airport.
In the same period, aircraft movement has seen a 142% increase, with 12,541 aircraft landing at HIA in April this year. Cargo movement has also witnessed a 70% increase in April, with the airport overseeing the movement of 222,339 tonnes of cargo.
This growth is also observed at HIA due to the airport’s welcoming of new airline partners such as Air Canada, Badr Airlines, and Vistara to its network in 2020. With 33…