Hamad International Airport (HIA), Qatar’s gateway to the world, has completed a year of operations and has served a total of 28 Million passengers from June 2014 to May 2015. Detailing the second quarter of 2015, HIA saw 7.28 million passengers arriving, departing and transferring from April to June with 2,495,191 passengers in the month of April, 2,419,783 passengers in May and 2,367,230 passengers in June. HIA seamlessly transitioned from its previous hub, Doha International Airport (DIA), to its current state-of-the-art facilities and full commercial operations of the airport began on May 27, 2014.

This successful transition was a testimony to the intensive planning efforts by the airport management, Qatar Airways and all its subsidiaries, HIA has now matured into a globally-recognised airport. The past year saw a total of 28,047,750 passengers arriving, departing and transferring through the airport; this represents a 23.6% year-on-year increase, having served 22.6 million passengers in its previous hub at Doha International Airport (DIA). The airport has also handled more than one million metric tonnes of cargo in total in its first year, demonstrating a 12% increase compared to the previous hub.

Along with the exponential growth of its passenger numbers and cargo, HIA now accommodates 36 airlines having efficiently handled 193,173 aircraft movements in the past year, which is 11.4% more than was handled per annum in the previous airport. HIA is the hub of Qatar Airways – the world’s fastest growing airline – and the transition to this new location has facilitated even further growth of the airline, which now operates 157 aircraft to 146 destinations worldwide.

Within less than a year of commencing operations, HIA has won six Skytrax 2015 awards at the Skytrax Airport Award Ceremony, held at the Passenger Terminal Expo 2015 in Paris. These include the Best Airport in the Middle East award as well as the second position as the Best Airport in Performance and Services. HIA has also won the 'Strategic Project of the Year' award at the 2015 Global Projects of the Year awards ceremony organised by CG/LA Infrastructure. HIA has also performed well in the surveys conducted by Airport Service Quality (ASQ) in the first quarter of 2015. This includes being ranked first in the Middle East for Cleanliness of Airport Terminal, Speedy Baggage Delivery and Comfort of Waiting Areas.

At the heart of Hamad International Airport is Qatar Duty Free (QDF), the airport’s award-winning shopping emporium with more than 40,000 square metres of combined retail and dining with more than 70 boutiques and 30 cafés and restaurants. QDF offers an unprecedented selection of designer labels, electronics, gourmet foods and much more. It also boasts an extensive portfolio of luxury brands and unique retail concepts, and is home to the largest perfume and cosmetics hall in any airport worldwide. HIA is also home to the Middle East’s first branch of Harrods.

Qatar Duty Free won three prestigious awards at the 2015 Duty Free News International Global Awards held in London. It won the coveted Global Travel Retailer of the Year award as well as the Airport Travel Retailer of the Year and Best New Shop Opening (since January 2014) for its Marmalade Market concept at HIA. HIA’s cargo building is two stories high and covers 55,000 square metres of the facility. It is entirely self-contained, with 11 wide-body aircraft stands and 42 loading docks, and has the capacity to handle 1.4m tonnes per year. It is highly automated and contains dedicated facilities for special categories of cargo such as live animals, perishable goods or temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals.

HIA is the hub for Qatar Airways Cargo, which is the freight arm of Qatar Airways, and currently serves more than 45 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide. Qatar Airways Cargo has witnessed rapid growth over the past five years and has become the world’s fifth largest cargo carrier in January 2015 in international freight tonne kilometres. It also won the highly-acclaimed 2015 Global Cargo Airline of the Year award in February at the Air Cargo Africa Awards as voted for by readers of STAT Trade Times.

Commenting on the airport’s achievements in its first year, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport, said: “We owe our accomplishments to our focus on customer satisfaction. We put the customer at the heart of everything we do. With this in mind, we have invested in a bespoke research programme to get to know our passengers and their needs. We not only offer passenger services, we offer an overall passenger experience.

“Talking about the future of the airport, Mr. Al Meer said: “Our future development strategy will focus on increased capacity and additional facilities. The development of our core aviation facilities is based on forecasts of passengers, aircraft growth figures and KPIs relating to service levels, which will all dictate our development plan. Additionally, we have created processes and management structures to manage and deliver our multi-million dollar future investment programmes strategically.”

We have now geared up to manage a much larger and more mature business, creating the capability to integrate several diverse service propositions in a manner which will lead to efficiency and an overall experience for our airport stakeholders and our passengers alike,” he concluded.

Qatar Airways is continuing its rapid growth across Africa and the Indian Sub-Continent with an increase in flight frequencies to Asmara, Eritrea, and to Dhaka, Bangladesh. From 7th September 2015, flights from Doha to Asmara will be increased from four to five times per week, representing a 25% increase in capacity and enhanced connectivity, in particular for customers from North America and Europe. 

And on 9th December 2015, flights from Doha to Dhaka, Bangladesh, will also be increased substantially with the number of frequencies jumping from 10 to 14 weekly, effectively  increasing capacity by 40% on this popular route.  Operated with an Airbus 330-300 offering 30 seats in Business and 275 in Economy, the additional flights will allow even more connection opportunities for customers flying from the Middle East, the U.S., Europe and Africa.

For the Doha-Asmara route, all flights are operated with Airbus A320 aircraft in a two-class configuration with 12 seats in Business Class and up to 132 seats in Economy. The Asmara expansion comes only nine months after the Eritrean capital was first introduced in December 2014 and demonstrates the growing demand for this route.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is committed to continually enhancing the five-star experience we offer to all our customers and this further expansion is in direct response to a growing demand on these popular routes. We are delighted to offer even more opportunities for our customers across the globe to connect through Doha’s state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport to both Eritrea and Bangladesh, flying on board one of the youngest fleets in the industry.”

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 18 years of operation and today flies a modern fleet of 163 aircraft to 151 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. At this year’s Skytrax Awards, the airline won Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East. Customers flying Qatar Airways can also enjoy the newly launched in-flight entertainment system, Oryx One, with up to 2,000 movies, TV shows and entertainment options available to view on board.

Doha-Asmara schedule from 7 September 2015:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
QR1443 Departs Doha 21:30hrs, Arrives Asmara 01:00hrs (next day)

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 
QR1444 Departs Asmara 02:00hrs, Arrives 05:20hrs

Doha-Dhaka schedule from 9 December 2015: 
Doha-Dhaka double-daily schedule 
QR634 Departs Doha 01:45hrs, Arrives Dhaka 09:30hrs 
QR636 Departs Doha 08:55hrs, Arrives Dhaka 16:40hrs

Dhaka-Doha double-daily schedule 
QR635 Departs Dhaka 10:40hrs, Arrives Doha 13:50hrs
QR637 Departs Dhaka 20:00, Arrives Doha 23:10hrs

For latest flight schedules, please visit http://www.qatarairways.com/

Ooredoo has announced Al Maha Services as the newest exclusive partner for its Al Nokhba Loyalty Programme. Al Maha Services is a personalised meet-and-assist service for passengers arriving or departing at Hamad International Airport. Al Maha Hostesses will be available to ensure that members enjoy seamless airport experiences with services including meet and assist in Departures and Arrivals, dedicated check-in counters, fast-track immigration and customs clearance.

As the newest partner added to the prestigious programme, members can enjoy  Al Maha Platinum services up to 3 times throughout the year at no additional cost.  To ensure a seamless experience, members should complete their bookings no later than 24 hours before the flight. Al Nokhba is Ooredoo’s exclusive customer loyalty programme for the company’s premium customers to reward their loyalty to Ooredoo. The new partner is the latest in a series of enhancements of Ooredoo’s Al Nokhba programme, which provides members with an incredible range of VIP experiences, partners and promotions.

For more information on all Al Nokhba partners, members can visit www.ooredoo.qa. 

Qatar Duty Free (QDF) has unveiled RED, its latest concept restaurant to open at Hamad International Airport (HIA), Doha.

RED grill is located in the airport’s North Node, and showcases a distinctive menu reflecting different food cultures from around the world. The restaurant takes its inspiration from the golden age of travel and the unique story of one individual, Passepartout, a charismatic French valet to an American philanthropist. Diners are offered an exceptional culinary experience fashioned from the memories, adventures, mementos, pictures, food and stories of Passepartout’s travels in the 1900s, and his memorable exploits will leave guests with a lasting impression.

Keith Hunter, Senior Vice-President Qatar Duty Free, said: “RED is an exciting and fresh concept, offering a new dining experience for all travellers at HIA. RED is QDF’s first concept restaurant to open in HIA’s North Node and its unique, characteristic theme, and inspired menu, set a new benchmark in airport hospitality, further complementing the comprehensive array of existing food and beverage offerings.” QDF’s newly opened restaurant combines colourful décor, ambiance and food to offer diners a celebration of worldwide travel. RED’s individual design represents the playfulness and vibrancy of the story behind its inception, using furniture and chinaware to evoke global festivals, celebrations and cultures. The signature onyx counter depicts the elegance and style that came with the golden era of the twentieth century.

Diners will enjoy the contemporary menu, which draws on influences, styles and flavours collected from across the culinary world to stimulate an exploration of food. Guests have a varied menu from which to choose, ranging from the all-American 'Red Big Breakfast', to the selection of Almost Famous Sandwiches, such as the 'Mad Fish' and 'Union Street Veg’, ‘The Spicy Goat Burger’, the ‘Fat Boy' soup, 'Australian Beef Steaks' and more. Children will be wowed with their own fairytale menu that includes specialties such as the ‘Monkey Snack’, ‘Mouse Trap’ and ‘Magical’ shakes, all to be enjoyed in the lively ambiance of RED, surrounded by vintage pictures and images showing the memories of old cities, towns and cultures, reflecting how people lived and travelled.

RED joins the 30 cafés and restaurants that offer a sumptuous selection of global and local cuisine. QDF offers 40,000 square metres of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, establishing the retailer as a premier shopping and dining destination. With more than 70 retail outlets offering an unprecedented selection of designer labels, fashion, electronics, gourmet foods and much more, Qatar Duty Free at HIA caters to all passengers’ tastes.

Hamad International Airport has occupied the sixth place in the list of the ten best airports in the world, according to the assessment by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller 2015, which was conducted in August this year. While Singapore’s Changi Airport has been ranked first, London’s Heathrow Airport-Terminal 5 has been ranked second, followed by Hong Kong International Airport in third place.

The list of the ten best airports in the world is ranked by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller and the criteria under which the airports are selected are customer satisfaction, airport access,airport retail, security and safety. Within less than a year of commencing operations, HIA has already won several prestigious awards including three Skytrax 2015 awards at the Skytrax Airport Award Ceremony in recognition of its outstanding performance and services including the Best Airport in the Middle East award. HIA also won the 'Strategic Project of the Year' award at the 2015 Global Projects of the Year awards ceremony organised by CG/LA Infrastructure.

Hamad International Airport offers its passengers a seamless travel experience with an enormous variety of retail and restaurant outlets, a 100-room hotel with squash courts, health spa, swimming pool and world class lounges and internationally famous works of art all designed for the enjoyment and relaxation of passengers. Passengers looking for further information on the airport, flights and airline operations can visit HIA’s website www.dohahamadairport.com or alternatively check for updates via HIA’s social media channels including Twitter (@HIAQatar), Facebook (Facebook.com/HIAQatar) and Instagram (HIAQatar).

An estimated $1.5 billion in economic benefits can be achieved in Qatar over the next ten years by delivering enhancements to air traffic control systems, according a new report commissioned by NATS, the air traffic management specialists. The independent report – “Economic Benefits of Improvements to Air Traffic Control” – was undertaken by Oxford Economics, the world leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis for business and government. This is the first such report to have been undertaken into the impact of investment in regional air traffic control management.

The Oxford Economics report is the result of an in-depth analysis of data from NATS and EUROCONTROL covering the broader Middle East. With aircraft fleets across the Middle East forecast to grow at an annual rate of more than 10% over the forthcoming decade, skies above the region are becoming increasingly congested. According to the Oxford Economics report, $16.3 billion in economic benefits can be generated in the region by avoiding a doubling in delays over the course of that period.

The report contains a dedicated section on Qatar, based on the rapid expansion of the country’s aviation industry. The national carrier, Qatar Airways, was established in 1994, since when it has grown exponentially, from 4 aircraft in 1997 to 152 today, serving 146 destinations and carrying over 22 million passengers. Furthermore, Qatar Airways has over 330 new aircraft pending delivery over the next few years.

In 2014, Qatar opened its new international report, Hamad International Airport, with phase 1 capacity of 30 million passengers per annum and a planned expansion to 50 million passengers per annum. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will bring even more passenger growth to Qatar, with Qatar’s market share of GCC aviation capacity predicted to increase by 17.1 percent by 2023, more than three times the predicted capacity growth of the GCC region’s share of global aviation.

However, Oxford Economics also calculated that the average flight in Qatar was delayed by 37 minutes and that 82% of those delays were attributable to air traffic control capacity and staffing issues. By 2025, without further investment in air traffic control systems, a doubling of delay minutes to 60 minutes would cost the country $1.5 billion. 

Despite the huge growth in aviation, as governments invest in increasing trade and tourist flows, the region’s available airspace has not kept pace, according to the report. In addition to approximately half the airspace in the Middle East being reserved for military flights, the number of handovers that take place between different authorities in different divisions of airspace can lead to additional delays. Although the report notes that the challenges faced are clearly recognised throughout the region, it goes on to say that ‘the pace of progress often does not meet the pace of continued traffic growth’.

John Swift, Direct, NATS Middle East, said: “This report highlights a clear economic case for much greater institutional, operational and technological investment in air traffic control systems across the region. It reveals that there are huge economic benefits available for airports, airlines and travellers, but also significant risks for governments in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

“As Qatar diversifies its economy and gears up for the hosting of major global sporting events, ensuring that aviation is up to world class standards is vital. The country has made huge strides in investing in aircraft and infrastructure – it is critical, though, that the ‘invisible infrastructure’ of airspace is not forgotten. Increased collaboration between civil aviation authorities and the private sector will go a long way to closing that gap.”

Kareen El Beyrouty, Senior Economist, Oxford Economics, said: “We have a strong and proud track record for independent and objective analysis and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to study air traffic management in the Gulf region. We are not aware that such a study has previously ever been conducted in the region, certainly not in as much detail, and the sheer scale of the findings has surprised us. We very much hope it will be welcomed by the aviation industry and aviation authorities and that it helps to guide forward thinking on this topic.”

Download the full report from the NATS website: http://www.nats.aero/me/news-events/economic-benefits-of-improvements-to-middle-east-air-traffic-control/

Qatar Airways’ world-class in-flight experience has been awarded the “Best Up In the Air” Experience award during the Future Global Travel Experience 2015. FTEG 2015, held in Las Vegas from September 9th to 11th, is an independent travel conference focused on the theme of “transforming the passenger experience through customer-focused innovation and collaboration.” The “Best Up in the Air” Experience award focuses on how emerging technology and service will change the in-flight experience by 2025, while highlighting top airlines that are driving these advancements forward. Members of Qatar Airways cabin crew were in attendance to accept the award.

“We are honored to receive this coveted award, particularly from an organisation that is focused on the future of air travel,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker. “Through our unparalleled amenities and our dedicated cabin crew, we continually strive to exceed today’s expectations and set new standards for tomorrow’s inflight experience. And thanks to the dedication and hard work of our award-winning Cabin Crew, as exemplified by this accolade, our passengers and fans clearly agree.”

The illustrious award comes at a time when Qatar Airways is expanding and adding significant new direct routes between the United States and Hamad International Airport in Doha. The airline plans to launch non-stop services to Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston in 2016, along with a second flight to New York JFK. The second daily service to New York as well as the current Philadelphia route will be operated by the airline’s latest flagship Airbus A350 for which Qatar Airways is the Global Launch Customer.

“Our goal is to offer the world’s best aviation services to as many passengers as possible,” said Mr. Rossen Dimitrov, Qatar Airways’ Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. “As we continue to expand out services in the United States, we have every confidence that our award-winning in-flight experience will give American travellers a new appreciation for global aviation.” Qatar Airways was also honored in 2015 at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, where the airline was named Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat, and Best Airline in the Middle East.

Qatar Airways is proud to unveil its specially designed Hajj kits to be offered to all passengers travelling for pilgrimage on its Jeddah and Madinah flights during Hajj season from 15^th– 22^nd of September 2015.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar is the first and only GCC airline to offerthese exclusive and specially designed Hajj kits, which contain a wide range of items for pilgrims traveling to Mecca, such as wet wipes, prayer counter, prayer beads, stone bag, socks and prayer mat.In addition, the-easy-to-carry bag can also be turned into a large bag to carry shoes.

Salam Al Shawa, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Marketing and Corporate Communications said: “In respect of this holy ritual, and our continuous commitment to our valued passengers to help and ease their experience during their Hajj journey, we are delighted to provide them with these exclusive Hajj kits. It is also a gesture of our appreciation and a thank you to the pilgrims for choosing Qatar Airways, and we wish them all a wonderful experience during their stay in Mecca.”

During the period of Hajj,Muslims from around the world will be heading to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the annual Islamic pilgrimage which is a mandatory ritual for all Muslims.

Qatar Airways began operations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1997 with non-stop flights to Jeddah. Since then, the airline has added Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah, Gassim, Ta’if, Al Hofuf and recently launched its new service to Abha raising the number of airline destinations in the Kingdom to eight and increasing weekly flights to 88, all non-stop to and from Doha, with connections to Qatar Airways’ 152 destinations around the world via the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport.

Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 18th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 166 aircraft flying to 152 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. Qatar Airways won Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East at the 2015 Skytrax Awards. This is the third time the airline won the accolade of Airline of the Year.

Hamad International Airport (HIA), Qatar’s gateway to the world, is preparing for the increase of departing and arriving passengers during the Eid Al Adha period. The airport is expecting a peak in departing passenger traffic from the 21^st of September and arriving passenger traffic from 27^th to 30^th of September this year.

In order to ensure that passengers experience seamless and comfortable travel through the airport, HIA advises all its locally departing passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight departure time and that check-in will close 60 minutes prior to departure. To save time, Qatar Airways and many other airlines operating from HIA offer passengers online check-in. General public who are dropping off or collecting passengers are advised to use the short-term car park which provides complimentary parking for the first 30 minutes and costs QAR5 per hour thereafter.

Passengers also have the option of parking their vehicles at the airport’s long-term car park which provides customers with 2,540 parking spaces and a regular shuttle service to the main terminal every 15-20 minutes. More information about HIA’s parking facilities can be found on its website. On the occasion of Eid Al Adha, the terminal will be decorated with traditional themed displays which portray Qatar’s pride in its culture and highlight the significance of the occasion. The airport will also be distributing gifts and Arabic delicacies to its passengers and will have activities and photo corners for passengers to enjoy.

“Hamad International Airport wishes its passengers and the people of Qatar safe travels and Eid Mubarak,” said Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport.

Ooredoo has launched two new competitions with a host of prizes for customers buying and using an Ooredoo Passport Card for the Eid break.

With thousands of people looking to fly out for Eid, Ooredoo has designed the competitions to add excitement to customers’ journeys. People can enter the competition when they purchase an Ooredoo Passport Card at Qatar Duty Free in the Departure Terminal of Hamad International Airport, or via the Ooredoo App. The first competition, called “Ooredoo Scratch and Win”, gives customers who buy an Ooredoo Passport Top-Up Card a 100% chance of winning a prize. With the competition, customers will be given a bonus scratch card along with the Ooredoo Passport Top-Up Card to ‘Scratch and Win’, with prizes including discounts from QR 10 to QR 100 to spend at Qatar Duty Free in departures.

To get a ‘Scratch and Win’ card, Ooredoo customers simply have to buy the Ooredoo Passport Top-Up Card from the Qatar Duty Free outlet at the Departure Terminal of Hamad International Airport before 20 November 2015. Each Ooredoo Passport Card purchase will get one ‘Scratch and Win’ card. To make sure customers who prefer to buy their Ooredoo Passport Top-Up Card on the go are rewarded, Ooredoo has also launched a competition offering customers the chance to win one of 12 brand-new iPhone 6 smartphones when they buy an Ooredoo Passport Card via the Ooredoo App.

To enter the competition, Ooredoo customers simply have to buy their Ooredoo Passport Top-Up Card via the Ooredoo App before 3 December 2015, and they will receive an entry into a special prize draw, with the winners announced on 7 December 2015. In both competitions, each Ooredoo Passport Top-Up Card purchase is equivalent to one entry, which means the more Passport Cards customers buy and use, the better chance they have to win prizes.

Ooredoo Passport Top-Up Card customers get 100 roaming minutes for all incoming, outgoing calls and 1GB of roaming mobile data in more than 65 countries. Ooredoo Passport also offers an extra 1GB of roaming mobile data for use in the GCC. The Ooredoo Passport works on all GCC networks and while roaming in GCC customers can enjoy 4G speeds in the UAE (Etisalat), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Mobily & STC), Bahrain (Batelco), Kuwait (Ooredoo Kuwait) and Oman (Ooredoo Oman, Omantel), at no additional cost

For more information on Ooredoo Passport and roaming rates from Ooredoo visit www.ooredoo.qa/op. 

Qatar Duty Free is delighted to announce that the winner of its US$1 million prize draw in September 2015 is Mr Sudish Sukumaran. Mr Sukumaran is Qatar Duty Free’s 20th winner of the Millionaire Draw held at Hamad International Airport (HIA), Doha.

Qatar Duty Free has also announced Abdullah Al Shareef, a Saudi national who became the proud new owner of a Bentley Continental GT Speed courtesy of QDF’s luxury car draw without even travelling to HIA, having purchased the winning ticket online via www.qatardutyfree.com.qa. Both prize draws were conducted at Hamad International Airport and were presided over by Qatar Duty Free’s Vice President of Branded Stores, Mr Luis Gasset and Hamad International Airport’s Vice President Commercial - HIA, Mr Abdulaziz Al Mass.

Winner Mr Sudish Sukumaran, an Indian national who lives in Doha, said: “When I received the announcement that I had won the prize I immediately called my wife and family to share the wonderful moment with them. I will save the money for my children’s education; I want them to have the opportunity to complete their academic studies at the best schools and universities available. Thank you Qatar Duty Free for this amazing opportunity.”

Keith Hunter, Senior Vice President, Qatar Duty Free said: “Qatar Duty Free’s Millionaire Draw has created 20 extremely grateful millionaires in the past nine years. Together with the 147 luxury car draws we have completed Qatar Duty Free has been able to create many special occasions for passengers travelling through Hamad International Airport. The next luxury car draw will be for a highly-desirable and rare Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, a highlight for 2015.”

The Qatar Duty Free Millionaire Draw is a highly popular promotion with only 5,000 tickets sold for each prize draw, and has continued to generate a tremendous response from passengers since its introduction in 2006. Future opportunities for departing and transit passengers to purchase US Dollar Millionaire raffle tickets, are also available online. For more details on how you could win a luxury car, visit www.qatardutyfree.com.qa and buy a ticket from Qatar Duty Free. The winning millionaire ticket was number 3069 and the winning luxury car ticket was number 0511.

At Hamad International Airport, Qatar Duty Free offers 40,000 m2 of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, establishing the retailer as a premier shopping and dining destination. With more than 70 retail outlets offering an unprecedented selection of designer labels, fashion, electronics, gourmet foods and much more, Qatar Duty Free at Hamad International Airport caters to all passengers’ tastes. In addition, more than 30 cafes and restaurants offer a sumptuous selection of global and local cuisine.

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) yesterday celebrated World Tourism Day (WTD) by handing out 2,017 roses to visitors at Hamad International Airport arrivals terminal, said The Peninsula. The celebration was in collaboration with Roza Hassad to mark Qatar’s winning the right to host official WTD 2017 celebrations. The biggest global event in tourism aims to raise awareness of cultural, social, political and economic values of the tourism sector. 

Global celebrations are held this year under the theme ‘One Billion Tourists — One Billion Opportunities’ as international tourist arrivals grew by 4.3 percent to 1.133 billion last year. The increase in has grown the economic potential for tourism in countries across the world, with international tourism generating $1.5trn in export earnings. QTA welcomed visitors and travellers through Qatar with roses grown in Qatar, packaged in boxes carrying the WTD slogan, and a message reminding them that every time they travel, they become part of a global movement that has the power to create opportunities and positive social and economic change. 

Faisal Al Mohannadi, PR and Communications Director, QTA, said, “We are delighted to extend celebrations to Qatar’s visitors, who contribute to the growth of our tourism sector and to use today as an opportunity to emphasise that Qatar has the potential to capitalise on the economic and social value of tourism, especially with its tourism sector ranking among the fastest growing globally.” “In 2017, Qatar will host official WTD celebrations under the theme ‘Sustainable Tourism – A Tool for Development,’ that aligns with Qatar’s National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, which aims to foster a sustainable and mature sector that can support the country’s efforts to diversify economy and achieve sustainable growth. 

The strategy sets pathways to achieve this growth, including international co-operation, attracting investments, and opening representative offices abroad,” he added.

Qatar Airways has announced its highly anticipated daily direct services from Doha to Sydney starting from 1st March 2016, the third Australian city in the Qatar Airways network. Currently, the Doha-based carrier operates daily non-stop flights to Melbourne and Perth with a total of 14 services each week.

Australia, with its stunning landscape of idyllic beaches and famous interior, along with its rich history and culture, draws millions of visitors each year. The most populous city of Sydney, with its ocean-side location, sandy beaches, and iconic attractions like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge is one of Australia’s and the world’s top business and tourist destinations, and Sydney will undoubtedly be a popular addition to Qatar Airways’ rapidly growing network.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “We are delighted to debut our daily Sydney flights next March. The expansion of our Australia services will undoubtedly boost and strengthen the trade and commercial links that exist between Qatar and Australia, setting the stage for even more robust partnership opportunities in the near future. We look forward to carrying more travellers to and from Australia across our extensive global network and providing them with another world-class experience both on board and on the ground at the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport in Doha.”

The evening departure timings in both directions provide convenient travel times for passengers, and enhance connectivity to attractive business and leisure destinations across Qatar Airways' ever-expanding global network. "We're looking forward to welcoming Qatar Airways to Sydney Airport. As Skytrax's 2015 Airline of the Year, Qatar Airways will provide passengers with a quality product and greater connectivity to destinations around the world," said Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kerrie Mather. "The new daily service will significantly boost inbound tourism to New South Wales (NSW), as well as create an estimated 3,000 jobs, including 2,500 in NSW, and contribute over $240 million to the Australian economy. 

Qatar Airways' service will also provide greater air cargo access to the Middle East and the growing Qatar market, which is great for NSW exports." The Doha-Sydney daily flights will be operated by the Boeing 777-300 aircraft which offers Qatar Airways’ award-winning in-flight hospitality and luxurious comfort across both cabins. The national airline of the State of Qatar was named the world’s best carrier at the 2015 Skytrax Awards earlier in June, marking the third time the airline has won this coveted accolade. Most recently, the airline was also awarded the ‘Best for Business’ award and named runner-up as the readers’ choice for ‘Leisure Long-haul Travel’ by one of the world’s leading travel publications, Condé Nast Traveller.

Passengers travelling with Qatar Airways to and from Sydney in Business Class on board the Boeing 777 can enjoy one of the most comfortable fully-flat beds in the sky with 78 inches of seat pitch. In addition, the on-demand à la carte menu service allows Business Class passengers to order anything from the menu at any time during the flight. The aircraft also features the state-of the-art Oryx One entertainment system, with more than 2,000 entertainment options on individual screens in all classes.

When flying with Qatar Airways, passengers can look forward to a convenient and seamless one-stop transfer at the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport (HIA), home of Qatar Airways. The airport houses one of the world’s largest and most luxurious Business Class lounges – the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, and also has over 40,000 square metres of retail space and restaurants that includes a selection of more than 70 retail and 30 food and beverage outlets.

HIA also has a fully accessible spa for all passengers with a minimal entrance fee that includes access to the following facilities: a swimming pool, squash courts, sauna and steam rooms. One of the fastest growing airlines in the world, Qatar Airways has experienced rapid growth in just 18 years of operation. Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 166 aircraft flying to 152 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Daily flights between Doha and Sydney from 1 March 2016 (all times local)

Depart Doha QR908 at 20:10, arrive Sydney at 18:05 (next day)
Depart Sydney QR909 at 22:20, arrive Doha at 05:05 (next day)

Hamad International Airport marked World Sight Day on the 8^th of October by launching a fundraising drive at the passenger terminal in partnership with Orbis UK, a global blindness prevention charity.

The airport’s fundraising drive was inaugurated by HRH Princess Sophie, the Countess of Wessex who is a patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).The drive is HIA’s initiative to support Orbis and Qatar Charity’s‘These Hands’ campaign to raise funds to reduce childhood blindness in Bangladesh. A booth has been set up at HIA’s terminal beside the Lamp Bear where passengers and airport staff can donate to the cause and engage in themed activities. All proceeds from the HIA fundraising drive will go towards supporting the ‘These Hands’ campaign.

The booth has also been adorned with paintings created by the children from Al Noor School for the Blind and Al Ruqayya School. The art pieces, created by visually impaired children, were conceived and directed by the British visual and performance artist Rachel Gadsden as part of Al Noor Fragile Vision- a multi-cultural art collaboration between UK and Middle East communities and arts organisations. HIA is exhibiting these art pieces in cooperation with the British Council, who curated the exhibition.

“Hamad International Airport is proud to support Orbis UK on World Sight Day for the fourth consecutive year. We are delighted to have this opportunity to partner with Orbis UK to contribute towards its sight saving initiatives,” said Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer.

Florence Branchu, Head of Partnerships Middle East, Orbis UK said: “We are hugely grateful to Hamad International Airport for joining forces with us to celebrate World Sight Day once again. This year our celebrations are particularly special as we are joined by HRH Princess Sophie, The Countess of Wessex. We are delighted that she is inaugurating the airport’s fundraising activities for ‘These Hands’. All funds raised through this campaign will help to save the sight and transform the lives of thousands of children in Bangladesh.”

HRH Princess Sophie, the Countess of Wessex also toured HIA’s airport facilities led by Mr. Al Meer.

Qatar Airways announced today that it has been named the Official Airline of Orbis UK, a global blindness prevention charity, for a period of two years starting September 2015. The announcement coincides with a fundraising drive organised at Hamad International Airport in celebration of World Sight Day, inaugurated by HRH Princess Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, who is a patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

Orbis is an international NGO that transforms lives by working to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment. There are 285 million people in the world who are blind or visually impaired, yet a staggering 80 per cent of eye conditions can be prevented or cured. The charity’s unique approach centres on training local eye-care teams on the latest sight-saving techniques. Every year, Orbis’ medical volunteers – some of the world’s leading eye care specialists – spend their free time teaching and training health workers around the world. As the Official Airline of Orbis UK, Qatar Airways will be flying medical volunteers on duty to the airline’s destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways believes that global aviation acts as a bridge between communities and people and we are delighted to be able to support causes that affect individuals across every continent. We are proud to offer our support to Orbis UK to help ensure that it can continue to make a significant difference in maintaining and restoring sight to even more people around the world.”

Flying to more than 150 destinations spread across six continents, Qatar Airways has the capability to reach many of the countries that Orbis UK volunteers want to reach. Orbis Africa Chairman Mr. Robert Walters said: “We are delighted that Qatar Airways is supporting Orbis UK through becoming our official airline. This partnership continues our deep links with the aviation industry – since 1982 we have operated the world’s only Flying Eye Hospital, a unique ophthalmic training centre on board a fully adapted DC-10 aircraft.

“With the support of Qatar Airways, our volunteers are able to continue saving sight around the world, moving us closer towards achieving our vision of a world where no-one is needlessly blind.”