Qatar Airways is adopting Lufthansa's concept of a separate terminal for premium passengers and will open a new facility this summer.
But unlike Lufthansa's compact First Class Terminal at its Frankfurt hub, the Qatar Airways' version at Doha will be substantially larger and will be made available to passengers flying both first and business class.
The separate 10,000 sq metre building forms part of a US$200 million package of improvements currently taking place at Doha airport. The terminal (which will come with five boarding gates) is expected to open by next July. It will mean that Qatar Airways' first and business class passengers can partake of services such as:
• Separate first and business check-in desks
• Separate first and business lounges each with their own dining areas
• Spa, Jacuzzi and sauna along with massage treatments, shower and wash rooms.
• Conference, meeting rooms and a business centre
• Free internet access stations
• Medical centre
• Prayer rooms
• Children's play area and nursery
At the same time, the existing terminal is being expanded to meet demand and relieve congestion. The number of boarding gates is being increased from 10 to 16 with an extra two immigration counters being added.
Qatar Airways is a rapidly expanding carrier serving over 70 worldwide destinations from Doha. The carrier's fleet is set to triple in size over the next 10 years to a total of 110 Airbus planes.
For more information go to qatarairways.com
Report by Alex McWhirter
