70mn optimum annual passenger capacity for HIA, says al-Baker

*Doha International Airport to be refurbished to meet the anticipated huge rush of visitors for the FIFA World Cup 2022

The Hamad International Airport (HIA) annual passenger capacity will not exceed 70mn as it will be “most optimum” capacity for Qatar’s state-of-the-art airport, Qatar Airways Group chief executive HE Akbar al-Baker said Wednesday.
“We don’t need more than this. We will stop at 70mn annual passenger capacity. What Heathrow is doing now is growing to 70mn (annual passenger capacity). Why should we keep spending more on the infrastructure, while this is a good size for a good hub, serving the State of Qatar,” al-Baker told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the ‘2019 Trinity Forum’ at the St Regis Doha Wednesday.
Al-Baker also said that the HIA was set to clock an annual passenger capacity in excess of 40mn by the end of this year.




He said the Doha International Airport would be refurbished to meet the anticipated huge rush of visitors for the FIFA World Cup 2022, which Qatar is hosting.
“Actually, when I say refurbish, we only need to clean and organise it. It is a fully functional airport; we only need to just do the upkeep and overhaul the systems that are already there and update them, compatible to Hamad International Airport,” al-Baker noted.
The Qatar Airways Group CEO earlier addressed the ‘2019 Trinity Forum’, which is jointly hosted by Qatar Airways, the HIA, and Qatar Duty Free (QDF) under the patronage of HE the Minister of Transport and Communications, Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti.
Al-Baker said, “The retail environment at airports plays an important part in a passenger’s journey, and the Qatar Airways Group is unique in the industry in its ability to manage and deliver an outstanding customer experience across all touch points through our own trinity of airline, airport and retailer. Together, we are able to implement next generation ideas and enhancements.
“As we expand Hamad International Airport, it is even more important to provide an airport experience like never before to our passengers. To do this, we will be looking to continue our longstanding relationships with existing partners, as well as introducing new ones. The 2019 Trinity Forum provides a great opportunity to foster new partnerships.”
The HIA recently revealed plans for its second expansion phase, which will feature a spectacular 10,000 sqm indoor tropical garden, a 268 sqm water feature, and 11,720 sqm of landscaped retail and F&B space. Expansion will allow the airport to increase its capacity to accommodate 53mn passengers annually by 2022 and 60mn in the years after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Hundreds of airport and retail industry leaders from around the world attended the Trinity Forum, which is an annual event organised by The Moodie Davitt Report, Airports Council International (ACI), and ACI Asia-Pacific.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking business class experience, Qsuite. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.
Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, HIA, to more than 160 destinations worldwide.