QATAR AIRWAYS MARKS THE OPENING OF HAMAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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Doha, Qatar – Hamad International Airport welcomed a celebratory Qatar Airways’ VIP flight this morning, upon the airport’s highly anticipated soft opening. Hamad International Airport is the world’s latest global gateway. Designed to accommodate 30 million passengers annually, rising to 50 million upon full completion, the airport covers an area of 29 sq kms.
Onboard the inaugural flight to Hamad International Airport were VIPs and other dignitaries, including Jassim Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transportation; Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways and Abdul Aziz Mohammad Al Noaimi, Chairman of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. Also onboard were Bernardo Gogna, Project Director, NDIA, together with other members of the New Doha International Airport Steering Committee.
Following the soft launch, 10 airlines are now operating fully from Hamad International Airport - Biman Bangladesh Airlines, flydubai, Air Arabia, Iran Air, Air India Express, Yemenia, Pakistan International Airlines, Syrian Airlines, Pegasus Airlines and Nepal Airlines. Qatar Airways will move its entire hub operations to Hamad International Airport on 27 May.
Commenting on the development, Al Baker said, “It is a historic moment, not only in the history of our airline, but for the State of Qatar, to see this Qatar Airways VIP flight touch down at the newly opened Hamad International Airport. Today’s highly anticipated opening of the new airport signifies to the world that Doha is now ready to open its doors for passengers to experience an airport that transforms the travel experience, and it is with much excitement that we await the move of all Qatar Airways flights to this new facility on the 27th May.”