Air India Express to shift to new Hamad airport in Doha Qatar

Air India Express will shift all its operations to the new Hamad International Airport (HIA) previously called New Doha International Airport (NDIA) in Qatar, on April 1, 2013. Nine other airlines are also being made to shift to the new airport.

Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, flydubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, RAK Airways, Syrian Air, and Yemen Airways. These airlines collectively operate about 32 passenger flights daily or about 222 flights per week.

The HIA is under-going a soft-opening. These ten airlines will help iron out the operational issues that affect any new airport. National carrier Qatar Airways and all other major airlines will continue to remain at the old Doha airport till the end of the year.

These ten airlines will operate from concourse B at HIA which will be fully operational on 1st April 2013. Passengers will enter the passenger terminal complex from the east side entrance and go directly to the check-in counters. After check-in, immigration and security, passengers will be directed to concourse B.

Along with the concourse B opening on 1st April 2013, the eastern runway, which is the longest of the two runways at HIA, and the crescent-shaped air traffic control tower, will also be in operation.

Parking will be available at the eastern side of the short term car park in front of the passenger terminal complex. From the car park, passengers will be able to enter the passenger terminal complex through the eastern link bridge connected to parking facility.

There will be taxis available to and from HIA as well as a limousine service from April 1. The taxi pick-up point is located on the arrivals floor at the left side when exiting the terminal and the limousine service is located on the arrivals floor at the right side when exiting the terminal. Across the road from arrivals there will be a pick-up point for private cars.

For transport between airports, arriving and departing passengers will be able to use the shuttle bus service which will be operating from HIA to Doha International Airport Departures terminal (DIA) and DIA to HIA as of the 1st April 2013.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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