Doha’s much anticipated, much delayed new airport, Hamad International (HIA), has finally welcomed its first passengers.
At close to noon today, Fly Dubai flight FZ015 from Dubai touched down at the terminal 45 minutes behind schedule, signaling the beginning of passenger operations at the airport.
About half an hour earlier, a ceremonial Qatar Airways flight carrying VIPs also flew into the new airport, after a very short flight from neighboring Doha International Airport.
The aircraft was greeted by two water cannons, assembled dignitaries and members of the press.
Although the first aircraft to land at HIA today, this flight was not the first aircraft to fly into the airport – HIA has seen numerous test landings, including the high profile visit of the Airbus A350 in February.
‘Challenges’ in construction
Officials from the $15.5 billion HIA and operating airline Qatar Airways held a press conference this morning to mark the opening.
When asked by Doha News what had been going on at the airport since last year’s thwarted soft launch on April 1st, the national carrier’s CEO Akbar Al Baker said that “certain issues about international standards which had been raised by authorities over the last year had to be addressed,” and that these had taken longer to resolve than expected.
“But, we should forget about what happened in the past, and now look to the future,” he added.
Although he did not comment specifically on reasons for the repeated delaying of the airport’s opening, he did say that Civil Defense had “worked hard” to “raise security standards at the airport.”
HIA officials also gave some more details about plans for the DIA once all commercial passenger traffic moves across to the new airport next month.
Journalists were told that the committee “has some ideas” to convert some of the area – a key piece of land near the center of the city – into “grassy areas and roads.”
Gulf Helicopters and the Qatar Aeronautical College would also use the runway and facilities, the officials said. No specific details about the fates of the existing departure and arrival terminals were revealed.
Opening welcomed
Reaction to the official opening has been enthusiastic, as residents look forward to an easier, smoother travel experience.