Hamad International Airport set to open mid year

The passenger terminal of Qatar’s multi-billion dollar new airport (Hamad International) is on track for mid 2014 opening.

The previous opening date for HIA was January of this year.

However, no specific date was announced for the inauguration of the ambitious project.

The cargo terminal at HIA started operations on December 1, when it received its first Qatar Airways Cargo shipment for Qatar Petroleum from Europe.

The passenger terminal was expected to open in the first quarter of 2014.

Due to increased transit growth in Qatar and the region in the past few years, modifications were necessary to deliver an airport with a capacity of 30 million on opening day.

According to reports, the planning for the $15.5bn project took place in 2003 and construction on the first two phases began in 2006, which were originally scheduled to be completed by 2009 but got delayed by several years.

The third and final phase is scheduled for completion by the end of 2015.

Source: The Peninsula | Photo: Doha International Airport