Hamad airport gets its first passenger

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA “THE moment has come to celebrate a new chapter in the Qatar’s aviation history: the world’s newest aviation hub, a world-class facility that is all set to redefine passenger and transit experience”.

Those were the words with which New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Steering Committee Chairman Abdul Aziz al Noaimi greeted a host of dignitaries, who got their first look of the Hamad International Airport (HIA), on Sunday, as they were guided through the plush, glitzy and state-of-the-art airport and the facilities that it promises to offer.

Describing the airport, Noami said, “Design, art, substance and safety intersect to create an unparalleled, neverbefore passenger experience.” At a simple but tastefully conducted ceremony, Minister of State for Internal Affairs HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani’s specially designed and framed boarding pass at the HIA, was handed over to Brigadier Abdullah Muhammed al Suwaidi, a representative of the minister, by Noaimi, as a symbolic first passenger check-in at the HIA.

Among the public figures present on the occasion were the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al Kuwari, Qatari Businessmen Association Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al Thani, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker and Dr Yusuf al Qaradawi Earlier, speaking at the function Noami said, “Today, we see a fulfilment of HH the Emir’s vision to have not just a new airport, but an airport that ranks among the best in the world. Today, we gather here to celebrate the accomplishment of the NDIA Steering Committee’s task – to create a world-class airport that meets the demands of rapidly evolving aviation industry needs, combined with leading edge technology.” The HIA is set to receive passenger flights of a dozen or more airlines in a couple of months - as early as April – while cargo operations are set to start in March.

The new airport has two world-class runways, reputed to be among the longest in the world, a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower, a passenger terminal with a capacity of 30 million passengers per year, over 25,000 square metres of retail and food & beverage facilities, and a uniquely shaped public mosque.