HIA’s aircraft traffic and number of passengers increase in July

The aircraft traffic and number of passenger at Hamad International Airport (HIA) increased in July this year, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) announced yesterday.

Aircraft traffic climbed by 29.9 percent July this year, compared to the same period in 2021. Based on the analysis of QCAA, aircraft movement in July 2021 reached 14,485 flights to 18,811 in July 2022. 

The number of passengers also jumped during the same period, an increase of 94.3 percent. Passengers last month reached 3,642,594, compared to 1,781,753 in July last year.

The gradual increase is also a testament of the ongoing momentum of air traffic recovery. 

During the second quarter of the year, HIA said the passenger traffic levels show an impressive 18 percent increase, higher compared to the first quarter. From May to June 2022, passenger transfer percentage grew by 16 percent, while outbound local passenger was 47 percent higher, compared to the first quarter. Inbound passengers number likewise increased by seven percent, compared to first quarter.

A total of 8.42 million passengers were served by HIA in the second quarter of 2022, including 2.5 million passengers in the month of April, 2.8 million in May and 3.1 million in June.

The second quarter was the busiest quarter for the airport since 2020, according to a statement released by HIA early last week.

However, air freight and mail were down to 8.3 percent in July 2022, compared to the same month last year. In June 2022, the flow was also reduced to 197,724, compared to 217,212 in June 2021.

The Hamad International Airport is getting ready to receive thousands of fans from around the world less than three months before Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup 2022. 

After the airport’s phase A extension, it will be able to accommodate 58 million people, and its phase B expansion, which will start in early 2023, would further increase the airport’s capacity to serve over 60 million passengers.

FIFA World Cup Qatar is expected to attract over 1.5 million visitors. 

During the quadrennial event, HIA and Doha International Airport will operate to its maximum capacity to receive over 16,000 spectators and football fans daily.

Doha International Airport will be processing over 5,000 to 6,000 football fans, while HIA between 8,000 to 10,0000 every day during the tournament.