Qatar expects 34-36m passengers through Hamad airport this year

Qatar's civil aviation regulator said on Monday it expected Hamad International Airport, the base of Qatar Airways, to handle between 34m and 36m passengers this year, roughly double the number served by the airport last year. The projection assumes the recovery in travel from the pandemic continues with nations further easing restrictions. An estimated 3.5m to 4.1m passengers will arrive, depart and transit Qatar in November, while 3.6m to 4.7m are expected in December, the regulator also said on Twitter. During the World Cup, which runs from mid-November to mid-December, several Middle East carriers will operate dozens of flights to and from Doha on match days, while Qatar will also use its old Doha International Airport for flights in addition to the newer Hamad International Airport. Hamad International, which only handles international flights, served 17.7m passengers in 2021, and 38.8m in 2019, the year before the pandemic began.<br/>