A large number of passengers benefit from the free long-term parking at HIA. PICTURE: Jayan Orma.
By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
The Hamad International Airport (HIA) might start imposing charges for its long-term parking in the coming months, it is learnt. Booths for the payment of parking fee will soon be built.
The daily fee at the long-term parking at the old Doha International Airport used to be QR50. For now, a large number of passengers and travellers are benefiting from HIA's free long-term parking, which can accommodate some 2,400 vehicles including those for people with disabilities.
HIA employees also have a designated parking area with more than 1,000 slots. Since it is free of charge, many passengers find it more convenient to leave their cars for several weeks when they are away from the country.
A bus comes to the parking area every 15 to 20 minutes to pick up passengers from six designated air-conditioned kiosks and it takes less than 10 minutes to reach the terminal. Smoking, sleeping, drinking and eating are prohibited in these kiosks.
On its website, the HIA noted that its short-term car parks offer a covered and easy access to the passenger terminal via dedicated walkways.
The first 30 minutes of parking is free while QR5 fee is charged for the first and succeeding hours. A lost ticket will cost QR35.
It is pointed out that the east short-term car park is more convenient for passengers flying with Qatar Airways while the west short-term car park is suited for passengers travelling with all other airlines.
Parking payment machines have been set up on the bridge connecting the passenger terminal complex and short-term car park.
One passenger, who just arrived from a holiday, lauded HIA’s long-term parking saying it was more convenient to leave his vehicle there. “I hope HIA will offer cheaper rates and give discounts to regular customers, when a parking fee is levied,” he suggested.
