Doha International Airport
Encyclopedia
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Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. It has three mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s, free Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
, a duty-free
Duty-free shop
Duty-free shops are retail outlets that are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country...
area, a few eateries and 42 parking bays for aircraft. There are also 60 check-in gates, 8 baggage claim belts and over 1,000 car parking spaces.
The airport suffers from overutilization even though the airport has been expanded numerous times. The current capacity stands at 12 million passengers per year. Its 15000 ft (4,572 m) runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
is one of the longest at a civil airport. It is the main base of Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. , operating as Qatar Airways, is the flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, it operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 100 international destinations from its base in Doha, using a fleet of over 100 aircraft...
. In the past, the airport was mostly used by Qatari holiday makers and foreign workers coming for the oil and gas sector. Now the airport is attracting more people such as holiday makers and transit travelers. It is also growing as Qatar Airways is expanding more rapidly. As of 2010, it was the world's 27th busiest airport by cargo traffic
World's busiest airports by cargo traffic
The world's thirty busiest airports by cargo traffic for various periods . Numbers listed refer to loaded and unloaded freight in metric tonnes.-2010 final statistics:...
. The control tower and ancillary buildings were designed by Curtis W. Fentress
Curtis W. Fentress
Curtis Fentress, FAIA, RIBA an American Architect, is the Principal-in-Charge of Design at Fentress Architects, an international design studio he founded in Denver, Colorado in 1980...
, FAIA, RIBA of Fentress Architects
Fentress Architects
Fentress Architects is an international design studio known for sustainable and iconic public architecture. Founded in 1980 by Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA, the firm is internationally recognized for innovative designs of international airports, national museums, convention centers, high-rise...
.
The existing airport will be replaced in late 2011 or early 2012 when the first phase of New Doha International Airport
New Doha International Airport
New Doha International Airport is an international airport currently under construction in Doha, capital of Qatar. NDIA was slated to replace the old Doha International Airport as Qatar's only international airport in 2009. Current estimates have a completion date of 2011/2012...
is expected to open.
The airport is currently ranked as a 3-star by Skytrax
Skytrax
Skytrax is a United Kingdom-based consultancy, the public face of Inflight Research Services, which has the largest airline and airport review and ranking site. It conducts research for commercial airlines...
.
Departure and Transfer Terminal
This is the main terminal at DOH and handles all economy class Qatar Airways flights as well as all other airlines using the airport. This terminal has been expanded several times in order to cope with the increasing number of passengers using the airport each year. The terminal has 44 satellite gates as well as spacious seating areas and a large duty free area. There are 3 lounges in this terminal including the Oryx Lounge, which is used by all airlines premium passengers, The Qatar Airways Gold Lounge which is used by Qatar Airways Gold Privilege Club members and the Qatar Airways Sliver lounge, used by Qatar Airways sliver privilege club card holders. This terminal is being expanded as the old Arrivals Terminal will soon be part of the departures terminal since a new arrivals terminal has opened. All departing and transferring passengers must use this facilties. Passengers arriving into Doha use the Arrivals Terminal.The Departure and Transfer Terminal is set to open an additional 12 boarding located betweent the terminal and the Premium Terminal gates in the current months as well as a revamped Oryx lounge to cater for the increase in passenger numbers.
Terminal A (Qatar Airways)
Terminal A of the Departure and Transfer Terminal is the check-in area used exclusively by the airport's biggest user, Qatar AirwaysQatar Airways
Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. , operating as Qatar Airways, is the flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, it operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 100 international destinations from its base in Doha, using a fleet of over 100 aircraft...
. It is the current check-in area of the departure terminal.
Terminal B (All Foreign Airlines)
The new 2,000sq m Terminal B, developed on the premises of the former arrivals terminal at Doha International Airport, will be dedicated to more than 30 foreign airlines operating services from Doha.They include Emirates, Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Jet Airways, Pakistan International Airlines, Lufthansa, Oman Air, Turkish Airlines, SriLankan, British Airways, KLM / Air France, Royal Jordanian, Sudan Airways, Air Arabia, Middle East Airlines, Air India Express, Saudi Arabian, Yemen Airways, Shaheen Air, Iran Aseman Airlines, Gulf Air, Nepal Airlines, Iran Air, Syrian Arab Airlines, Etihad Airways, Egyptair, Bahrain Air and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Highlights of the new terminal include an enlarged check-in area with 35 counters, including an online check-in lounge, a dedicated customer service desk for oversized luggage, a currency exchange bureau, automated teller machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
s, a new high-tech baggage handling system and food and beverage outlets.
“An enlarged 600sq m immigration hall with 10 counters and three e-gates will prevent long queues and ensure seamless and hassle-free passport clearance formalities,” an official said.
Qatar Airways Premium Terminal
The Qatar Airways Premium Terminal was opened in 2006 and handles all Qatar Airways first and business class passengers. The terminal houses several five star facilities including a first class lounge, a business class lounge, a small medical center, a games room, several conference rooms, a spa and a duty free area. The terminal also has a spacious check in area. There are 6 gates in this terminal.Arrival Terminal
The present Doha International Airport has opened a new Arrival Terminal located in the western apron in the site of the former Asian Games temporary terminal on December 19, 2010. The terminal has a capacity of handling 2770 passengers per hour and has opened on December 19, 2010, with the first flight being QR 133 from Kuwait which landed at 11:30 AM. The 32,000 square meter arrival terminal has replaced the arrival hall of the present Doha Airport terminal. The terminal has 22 immigration counters, eight e-gates, eight baggage carousels, 36 concierge desks for hotel transfers, car rental and other services as well as 746 parking spaces. The current arrival hall will be merged with the departing hall, adding extra valuable space and capacity to the airport. These changes are part of the multi-million dollar expansion of Doha Airport to cope with the increasing traffic of Qatar Airways and other airlines before the new Doha International Airport opens in 2011.
Facilities
- Doha International Airport has many world class facilities including an award winning Duty Free located in the Arrival and Departure Halls .
- Other Facilities include a kids play area located in the Departure Hall and the Premium Terminal.
Qatar Airways Premium Terminal
Qatar Airways First and Business class passengers can enjoy the Qatar Airways Premium Terminal.- First Class passengers have access to a spacious lounge with buffet dining plus a spa facility which includes a Jacuzzi, sleeping rooms and massage services.
- Business Class passengers also have a spacious lounge with buffet dining services.
- Other facilities include a game room, a business center, meeting rooms and a medical center. The premium terminal also features a Duty Free area with luxury shops.
Qatar Airways Gold Lounge
Privilege Club Gold members are welcome to enjoy the facilities in the Gold Lounge in the Main Terminal at Doha International Airport. This lounge includes a Business Center with free internet access, buffet dining services, newspapers and magazines, a smoking area, shower facilities and luggage storage.Qatar Airways Silver Lounge
Privilege Club Silver members can enjoy the facilities of the Silver lounge in the Main Terminal at Doha International Airport. This lounge includes a Business Center with free internet access, buffet dining services, newspapers and magazines and shower facilities.The Oryx Lounge
Main airlines based at DOH
- Qatar Airways is the largest airline operating at DOH. The airline has around 100 AirbusAirbusAirbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
and BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
aircraft based at this airport, with flights to over 100 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Australia. It operates from the main departures terminal and has an exclusive premium terminal for First and Business Class passengers. - Qatar Airways Cargo, a subsidiary of Qatar Airways is the main Cargo operator at DOH with a fleet of Airbus A300F's and B777-200F's operating scheduled all cargo services from its Doha Hub to over 25 major cargo destinations across the globe.
Airlines and destinations
Cargo airlines
Accidents and incidents
- On 9 November 1970, a Douglas C-47 on a flight from Dubai International AirportDubai International AirportDubai International Airport is an international airport serving Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates. It is a major aviation hub in the Middle East, and is the main airport of Dubai. It is situated in the Al Garhoud district, southeast of Dubai...
to Bandar Abbas Airport was hijackAircraft hijackingAircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
ed and diverted to Doha Airport. - On 13 March 1979, an Alia Jordanian Boeing 727 crashed on landing at Doha airport in Qatar. Three crew members and 42 passengers were killed. The aircraft was written-off.
Statistics
Since 1998, the number of passengers and total cargo load has significantly increased| Year | Total Passengers | Total Cargo (tons) | Total Cargo (1000s lbs) | Aircraft Movements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2,100,000 | 86,854 | ||
| 1999 | 2,300,000 | 62,591 | ||
| 2002 | 4,406,304 | 90,879 | 200,351 | 77,402 |
| 2003 | 5,245,364 | 118,406 | 261,037 | 42,130 |
| 2004 | 7,079,540 | 160,088 | 352,930 | 51,830 |
| 2005 | 9,377,003 | 207,988 | 458,530 | 59,671 |
| 2006 | 11,954,030 | 262,061 | 577,739 | 103,724 |
| 2007 | 9,459,812 | 252,935 | 557,626 | 65,373 |
| 2008 | 12,272,505 | 414,872 | 914,636 | 90,713 |
| 2009 | 13,113,224 | 528,906 | 1,166,038 | 101,941 |
| 2010 | 15,724,027 | 707,831 | 1,560,498 | 118,751 |