THE new arrivals terminal at Doha International Airport opened doors to passengers in December 2010. The terminal features an expanded number of immigration counters and e-gates, as well as duty free shopping, hotel transfer desks, cafés restaurant and a premium arrivals lounge for Qatar Airways first and business class passengers. Doha International Airport chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said that the opening of the new Doha arrivals terminal was launched as preparations for the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) continued.
The new Doha arrivals terminal, a stand-alone facility, separate from the departures and transfers terminal which is situated on Al Matar Street, is one of numerous key developments at Doha International Airport (DIA). “With the pace of development in the State of Qatar increasing exponentially, the new Doha arrivals terminal and other improvements will sustain the existing airport’s expected growth in passenger numbers until the time comes when we move all these operations to NDIA in 2012,” he said.
“The existing Doha International Airport is well prepared to handle this interim period of growth and we are also planning ahead to the future to ensure a smooth transition when the new airport becomes operational,” he added.
The new arrivals terminal, which at 13,500 sq m is significantly larger than the airport’s existing arrivals area, will see extra immigration counters, e-gates and baggage belts, a duty-free retail experience, numerous hotel transfer desks, a Qtel kiosk, a café restaurant and a Premium Arrivals lounge for Qatar Airways first and business class passengers. Work on expanding the departures & transfers terminal is expected to start soon, to provide larger check-in and passenger facilities, as well as additional boarding gates and other amenities. Currently, the Doha International Airport handles more than 15 million passengers a year.
The $14.5-billion NDIA project is scheduled to open in 2012. Meanwhile interim measures such as building the new Doha arrivals terminal will handle growing traffic through the country. The improvements are designed to handle the growth of national airline Qatar Airways as well as facilitate dramatic increases in passenger traffic, officials say.