Dubai, London, Bangkok, Bahrain and Colombo were the top five destinations at Hamad International Airport (HIA) in HY1, as passengers numbered a record 17.6m – up +20% compared to 14.6m in HY1 2015.

 

Airport management also reports ‘a significant increase’ in aircraft operations from January to June, notching up 118,069 movements corresponding to a 17% rise in take-offs and landings compared with HY1 2015.

 

In a statement, the airport says this is due to ‘the continuous expansion of Qatar Airways’ over the period in review and eight new destinations in particular, including Adelaide, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Los Angeles, Marrakech, Ras Al Khaimah and Yerevan – plus additional flights introduced by Philippine Airlines, Atlas Global Airlines and Himalaya Airlines.

 

 

TOP FIVE ROUTES ACCOUNTED FOR 20.3% OF PAX

Dubai, London, Bangkok, Bahrain and Colombo accounted for 20.3% of all passenger traffic, while the UAE led all other countries in terms of total passengers, followed by India, Saudi Arabia, the US and the UK. Regionally, Asia achieved a 33.6% share of passenger movements, followed by the Middle East with 22% and Europe with 21.6%.

 

Offering his comments on the interim results, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, COO at Hamad International Airport, said: “The first six months of this year have been the busiest for our airport to date, achieving record passenger and aircraft movement traffic.

 

“We expect HIA to continue demonstrating a healthy and steady growth in passenger numbers for the rest of the year, supporting Qatar’s vision for HIA to be leader among global aviation hubs.

 

 

QATAR DUTY FREE CARS AND CHECK IN DISCOUNTS…

“We are therefore committed to further invest in the development of HIA, by adding capacity, improving connectivity and delivering the best services to our travellers who have voted us as one of the top ten airports and the 5th best airport shopping in the world for 2016, and the top airport in the Middle East for the last two years.”

 

Meanwhile, the Qatar Airways’ owned Qatar Duty Free operation continues to perform well over its 40,000sq m of combined retail and F&B facilities comprising plus-70 outlets. Currently it is offering its passengers a 10% discount voucher to redeem at QDF outlets if they check in online. Alternationavely – or additionally – they can also have a chance to win a Lamborghini Huracan for the price of a QAR650/$180 ticket in it latest airport luxury car raffle.

 

At the same time, Hamad International Airport-Qatar has also recently become the official platinum sponsor of FC Bayern-Munich – described as ‘the most successful club in German football history’ – demonstrating its ‘global focus as an organisation’, as well as its support of the State of Qatar’s vision for facilitating and celebrating the power of sport to bring people together.

 

 

MORE BUSINESS TRAVELLER AWARDS FOR AIRLINE

Last, but not least, Qatar Airways was again named the Best Middle Eastern/African Airline at the 2016 Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards held in Hong Kong on 23 September, 2016. This is the seventh consecutive year the airline has received this accolade.

 

Commenting, Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said: “We are extremely honoured to be voted as the Best Middle Eastern/African Airline for the seventh straight year.

 

“We would like to thank our loyal passengers for their continued support and for giving us their vote of confidence. I would also like to express my gratitude to all of our staff for their continued dedication to delivering exceptional, award-winning, travel experiences and products to our passengers.”