Qatar spends over $2 billion to establish new Doha Airport

Published November 12th, 2003 - 03:00 GMT

Qatar has unveiled plans to invest two billion dollars in the first phase of a new airport in Doha. The gas-rich emirate on the eastern coast of the Arabian Gulf will start construction of the new state-of-the-art Doha International Airport next year.

Chief Executive Officer of Doha International Airport and Qatar Airways Akbar Al-Baker unveiled the new airport's master plan at the recent World Travel Market in London, England. The new facility will have two parallel runways and an estimated capacity to handle and process nearly 12 million passengers annually.

The terminal would have 24 contact gates in the first phase and would be able to accommodate upto six A380-800 Super Jumbos when fully developed. The complex will also include three high-star classification hotels for the convenience of visitors.

The 2,200-hectare airport site is to the east of the existing Doha International Airport. It will be developed in three stages, with work onsite to start in the middle of 2004 and final completion by 2015 of the ultimate development.

Phase one of the new airport development will be completed by late 2008 or early 2009. Until the new airport is opened, the existing airport will be significantly upgraded to handle the increase in passenger growth.

“We, at Qatar Airways, have already announced a $38 million program to upgrade the terminal this year, as part of a broader $140 million program to increase the annual capacity of the airport from 4.2 million to 7.5 million passengers,' Al Baker pointed out. — (menareport.com)