By Raynald C Rivera
DOHA: The expansion of Hamad International Airport (HIA) will push through as planned and be completed on time, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said yesterday.
The project aims at doubling HIA’s capacity from 30 million to 60 million passengers. “The project will go on and we have plans in place. The expansion will soon take place because we have to expand the airport to cater to the expansion of Qatar Airways,” Al Baker said in response to a question at a press conference yesterday.
The initial phase of the project has commenced, with parking areas. “We have started the first phase of expanding the parking areas in order for us to release the space around the expansion area of the airport because we have to move the parking away from the north end of the terminal building in order for us to start construction,” he explained.
“The first part of the final construction phase of the airport has started and it will be ready by the end of this year. The total expansion of the airport to increase capacity will be completed on time by 2021, latest,” he added.
Asked about the airline’s investment in expanding its fleet, Al Baker said, “We have nearly 300 aircraft on order to list price of almost $70bn and our fleet expansion is progressing as planned. “QA has a continuous plan of fleet expansion and fleet replacement to keep the average age of our fleet very young. Already, QA has the youngest aircraft fleet of any airline in the world,” he said.
The Peninsula
