Doha’s Hamad International airport names launch carriers

Hamad International airport (HIA) has unveiled the carriers which will begin operations from the new facility on April 1. The airport will soft launch with a total of ten carriers including Flydubai, Air India Express and Pakistan International Airlines, operating around 32 flights per day from Concourse B. Qatar Airways will continue to fly to and from Doha International airport, before moving its entire operations to HIA “by the end of the year”. The full list of launch carriers is as follows:

• Air Arabia
• Air India Express
• Biman Bangladesh Airlines
• Flydubai
• Iran Air
• Nepal Airlines
• Pakistan International Airlines
• RAK Airways
• Syrian Air
• Yemen Airways

Initially passengers will board and disembark aircraft via an air bridge to the terminal building, and aircraft will use the airport’s eastern runway. Parking will be available at the short term car park in front of the terminal, and taxis and limousine services will be able to use the facility from April 1. A shuttle bus will also be on hand to transfer passengers between HIA and Doha International. The new airport, which had formerly been known as New Doha International, has been dogged by a series of delays, and missed its most recent opening date of 12/12/12. The airport will accommodate 28 million passengers when it fully opens this year, increasing to 50 million beyond 2015. For more information about both Doha International airport and HIA, visit dohaairport.com. Report by Mark Caswell