QATAR. Hamad International Airport posted record passenger traffic in 2016, with numbers up by +20.5% compared to 2015.
The Doha airport said it handled 37.3 million passengers during the year.
Hamad International’s growth in traffic comes during a time of significant investment in the airport’s capacity, product offering and operations. Recently-completed work includes the full utilisation of concourses D and E, which has provided a platform for an enhanced retail offering.
Retail arrivals at Hamad International last year included Qatar Duty Free’s December opening of an Omega store in the airport’s Fashion Avenue. Meanwhile this week, Qatar Duty Free partnered with L’Oréal Luxe to launch a fragrance pavilion at the airport.
Technology investment has been at the heart of the airport’s strategy in the last 12 months, with the launch of an iBeacon-enabled mobile app and the Smart Airport Programme aimed at improving the passenger journey through the terminal.
Various way-finding and transport services, including dual passenger trains, have been developed to speed up the time it takes for passengers to move through the Doha hub.
Hamad Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Al Meer called 2016 “an exceptional year” for the airport.
“Our capacity expansion programme launched in 2016 has also enabled us to efficiently serve our increasing passenger numbers and handle growing cargo and aircraft movements with our renowned high-quality standards,” he remarked.
