This, HIA said represents a 20% increase from the number of passengers that travelled through the airport during the first quarter of 2015.
In detail, HIA had some 8,867,971 passengers pass through its gates during the first quarter of 2016, with a record 3,089,826 passengers departing, arriving and transiting in January which is an unsurpassed figure for a single month for the airport.
February and March had 2,722,867 and 3,055,278 passenger movements respectively. The same period in 2015 saw a total of 7,360,145 passengers travelling through HIA, including 2,589,400 passengers in January; 2,285,221 in February; and 2,485,524 in March.
HIA also had a significant increase in aircraft movements in the first quarter of 2016 with a total of 58,288 movements, which represents a 8.6% increase in aircraft take-offs and landings at the airport, compared to 56,282 movements during the same period last year.
January and February saw 19,455 and 18,511 aircraft movements respectively, followed by March with “unprecedented” 20,322 aircraft movements, which is the highest the airport has had.
Cargo tonnage totalled 389,950 tonnes in the first quarter of 2016 with 125,907 tonnes of cargo handled in January, 122,227 tonnes in February and 141,815 tonnes in March.
The airport ended the previous year on a strong note having handled 30.9mn passengers from January to December last year.
It handled a total of 1.4mn tonnes of cargo as well 212,252 aircraft movements.
On the airport’s record-breaking figures Badr Mohammed al-Meer, HIA chief operating officer said,“With the activation of concourses D and E at HIA as well as the technological advancements being implemented in the terminal, we are in a position to handle more passengers, aircraft and cargo movements than ever before. We expect a steady growth in numbers for the remaining year as well.”
Hamad International Airport features two runways, among the longest in the world, a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower, a stunning passenger terminal with an initial design capacity of 30mn passengers a year, over 40,000 square meters of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, and a uniquely shaped public mosque.
Hamad International Airport features 12 different lounges spread across more than 80,000 square metres and also features an airside hotel, two airside squash courts, a gym, a 25-metre swimming pool and spa, all within moments of the departure gates.