In the first half of 2023, Hamad International Airport (DOH) continues to experience outstanding growth in terms of passenger traffic. There has been an increase in passengers flying to and from Doha, as evidenced by a 33.5% rise in passenger traffic and an 18.1% increase in aircraft movements compared to the same time last year.
20,775,087 passengers passed through the airport in the first half of 2023, with 10,315,695 passing through in the first quarter and an additional 10,459,392 in the second. A total of 116,296 aircraft arrived and left the airport during the first half of 2023, an increase in aircraft movements over the same period previous year of 56,417 in the first quarter and 59,879 in the second.
The first half of 2023 saw Hamad International Airport transport 17,596,776 bags through its facility, including 11,376,483 transfer bags, and handle 1,121,382 tonnes of cargo.
With 3,281,773 passengers in April, 3,440,047 in May, and 3,737,572 in June, the airport handled a 24% increase in passenger traffic from the same month previous year. The number of aircraft movements likewise increased steadily, from 18,762 in April to 20,226 in May to 20,891 in June. There were 194 scheduled passenger and cargo destinations at the airport overall during the second quarter of this year.
Thanks to Hamad International Airport’s dedication to investing in cutting-edge technology, advanced screening technology has been used to speed up processing and improve security at the airport. Transferring passengers can keep their electronic devices and liquid containers in their hand luggage thanks to the use of modern screening tools. The average processing time for transferring passengers at security checkpoints during the second quarter of the current year was 28 seconds per passenger.
Hamad International Airport’s Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammad Al Meer, commented on the airport’s encouraging performance, saying: “We are glad to witness a boom in passenger traffic throughout the first half of this year. We have been able to upgrade the airport infrastructure and broaden our product offerings thanks to our continuous commitment to optimizing operations and making investments in growth plans. With these developments, we hope to strengthen our position as a competitive force in the aviation sector and keep going above and beyond.”
In response to the airport’s encouraging performance, Engr. Badr Mohammad Al Meer, the chief operating officer of Hamad International Airport, said: “We are glad to witness a surge in passenger traffic throughout the first half of this year. Our ability to upgrade the infrastructure at the airport and broaden our product offerings is a result of our consistent commitment to improving operations and making investments in growth initiatives. We hope to strengthen our competitive position in the aviation sector with these developments and keep going above and beyond expectations.
Hamad International Airport has upgraded its amenities, added new leisure activities, and embraced cutting-edge technology over the previous year. The airport is dedicated to giving each and every one of its visitors an extraordinary traveling experience. It is home to the recently built Louis Vuitton Lounge, the first of its type at an airport, and offers a wide selection of bespoke shopping and dining options. Additionally, travelers continue to be in awe of the ORCHARD, a tropical garden located in the airport’s north section and created to evoke feelings of well-being and tranquillity.Future-looking, phase B of the airport expansion is now under construction and, when finished, will boost the airport’s capacity to more over 70 million passengers annually.
Given that IATA recently revealed that passenger numbers in the Middle East are anticipated to treble by 2040, the expansion will ensure that Hamad International Airport maintains its position as a market leader.