28 May 2006
MUSCAT -- Qatar Airways one of the world's fastest growing airlines, recently unveiled one more of its many firsts: one of the world's only dedicated first and business class terminal, which is currently under construction at Doha International Airport, Ali A. Khaliq Ibrahim, regional manager, Arabian peninsula, Qatar Airways, told the Times of Oman, yesterday.
The exclusive building, which will feature innovative facilities to provide its loyal customers with the best levels of comfort and hospitality prior to boarding the flight, will be opened this summer.
This is part of a $200 million expansion at the current airport, he said. Passengers travelling in the first and business classes with Qatar Airways will be able to enjoy a hassle-free experience from the time they check in to departure on one of the award-winning airline's numerous scheduled flights to 70 destinations worldwide.
Construction of the 10,000 square metres building began earlier this year at a site next to the main terminal at Doha International Airport.
Dubai-based Micekraft was appointed by Qatar Airways to design the new terminal's interiors. Due to open this summer, the terminal will be operational around the clock.
The new terminal for premium passengers will be a big boost for Qatar Airways, officials said.
The new terminal development is part of a new raft of improvements currently taking place at Doha International Airport, where the arrival and departure halls are being expanded to cope with the increasing number of passengers flying in and out of the airport.
An additional 21,000 square metres of space is being added to the existing terminal. The number of boarding gates will be increased from 10 to 16; there will be two additional immigration counters; new e-gates in arrival and departure to speed up the processing of passengers; and a sharp increase in the number of aircraft parking bays to ease the existing constraints and cope with the huge expansion of Qatar Airways' fleet.
Qatar Airways is adopting a strategy of boosting its international network through new routes and additional frequency. The airline has increased capacity on key routes recently, including London Heathrow, Manchester, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Athens and Manila. Capacity to Frankfurt, Bangkok and Osaka is also being organised this summer, Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, said.
The first class interiors of Qatar Airways' new Airbus A340-600 aircraft is also scheduled for delivery this summer.
The airline is introducing the onboard premium lounge giving passengers and opportunity to relax and unwind in the comfort of an exclusive section of the aircraft at 35,000 feet.
The move coincides with Qatar Airways unveiling its brand new livery, which will be on the first A340.
Meanwhile, the $5.5 billion new Doha International Airport, construction of which began in January 2005, was on schedule and will be open in 2009, officials said.
The airport is considered to be an architectural marvel and the first in the world to be designed and built specifically for the Airbus's new A380-800 double-decker 'superjumbo' the largest passenger aircraft ever built.
The A380 will be capable of carrying more than 550 passengers, with Qatar Airways, a launch customer taking delivery of the first of its four A380s in 2009, the year the new airport is set to open.
With Qatar Airways being a key sponsor in the Asian Games in Doha, at the end of the year, the airline is expected to spend the remaining months focusing on promoting the event across its international network.
MUSCAT -- Qatar Airways one of the world's fastest growing airlines, recently unveiled one more of its many firsts: one of the world's only dedicated first and business class terminal, which is currently under construction at Doha International Airport, Ali A. Khaliq Ibrahim, regional manager, Arabian peninsula, Qatar Airways, told the Times of Oman, yesterday.
The exclusive building, which will feature innovative facilities to provide its loyal customers with the best levels of comfort and hospitality prior to boarding the flight, will be opened this summer.
This is part of a $200 million expansion at the current airport, he said. Passengers travelling in the first and business classes with Qatar Airways will be able to enjoy a hassle-free experience from the time they check in to departure on one of the award-winning airline's numerous scheduled flights to 70 destinations worldwide.
Construction of the 10,000 square metres building began earlier this year at a site next to the main terminal at Doha International Airport.
Dubai-based Micekraft was appointed by Qatar Airways to design the new terminal's interiors. Due to open this summer, the terminal will be operational around the clock.
The new terminal for premium passengers will be a big boost for Qatar Airways, officials said.
The new terminal development is part of a new raft of improvements currently taking place at Doha International Airport, where the arrival and departure halls are being expanded to cope with the increasing number of passengers flying in and out of the airport.
An additional 21,000 square metres of space is being added to the existing terminal. The number of boarding gates will be increased from 10 to 16; there will be two additional immigration counters; new e-gates in arrival and departure to speed up the processing of passengers; and a sharp increase in the number of aircraft parking bays to ease the existing constraints and cope with the huge expansion of Qatar Airways' fleet.
Qatar Airways is adopting a strategy of boosting its international network through new routes and additional frequency. The airline has increased capacity on key routes recently, including London Heathrow, Manchester, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Athens and Manila. Capacity to Frankfurt, Bangkok and Osaka is also being organised this summer, Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, said.
The first class interiors of Qatar Airways' new Airbus A340-600 aircraft is also scheduled for delivery this summer.
The airline is introducing the onboard premium lounge giving passengers and opportunity to relax and unwind in the comfort of an exclusive section of the aircraft at 35,000 feet.
The move coincides with Qatar Airways unveiling its brand new livery, which will be on the first A340.
Meanwhile, the $5.5 billion new Doha International Airport, construction of which began in January 2005, was on schedule and will be open in 2009, officials said.
The airport is considered to be an architectural marvel and the first in the world to be designed and built specifically for the Airbus's new A380-800 double-decker 'superjumbo' the largest passenger aircraft ever built.
The A380 will be capable of carrying more than 550 passengers, with Qatar Airways, a launch customer taking delivery of the first of its four A380s in 2009, the year the new airport is set to open.
With Qatar Airways being a key sponsor in the Asian Games in Doha, at the end of the year, the airline is expected to spend the remaining months focusing on promoting the event across its international network.
By Staff Reporter
© Times of Oman 2006
