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The Peninsula
Qatar Tourism Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, has disclosed that Hamad International Airport (HIA) aims to hit record numbers this year, building on post-covid recovery and the global visibility of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
HIA recently announced that passenger numbers more than doubled year-on-year to reach 35,734,243 in 2022 -- representing +101.9% of the 2021 number and 92.1% of the pre-pandemic 2019 total.
“We are already nearly 37 million passengers at Hamad International Airport. In 2019, just before COVID-19, we were 39.5 million passengers. So we are very close, but we are hoping we will break a record on the number of passengers that will pass this year,” Al Baker said yesterday during a press conference for the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition.
Al Baker noted that though the World Cup is over, hitting record numbers would be a significant achievement for the airport, which currently serves around 170 destinations.
“It's a lot of pressure on Qatar Tourism to bring people and at the same time for Qatar Airways commercial team for them to deliver the high expectations I always have,” he added.
Qatar Airways flies to over 150 destinations from its hub in Doha. The airport is undergoing its phase B growth development plan, which will increase its capacity to over 70 million passengers. As part of the project, two new concourses are being constructed within the existing terminal.
Yesterday, it was announced the HIA was chosen as the 'Best Overall Airport in the World' at the 19th Annual Global Traveler Tested Reader Survey Awards, voted by readers and frequent business and luxury travellers. The airport was also awarded the 'Best Airport in the Middle East' for the sixth consecutive year.
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