A huge water feature and indoor tropical garden will be the focal points of Hamad International Airport’s expansion, which it plans to complete before Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
A new central concourse will link concourses D and E, with work due to begin early next year.
It is set to expand capacity to 53 million passengers a year by 2022. In 2018 the airport handled 34.5 million passengers.
The concourse will include a 10,000 sqm tropical garden and a 268 sqm water feature, reminiscent of the recently-opened Jewel complex at Singapore Changi airport, which contains the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and a tropical garden.
In a tweet showing a CGI run-through of the new facility, Hamad International said its aim was to be destination in its own right.
A column-free, grid shell roof will use performance glass that can filter light to the level preferred by tropical trees.
The project will also add 11,720 sqm of retail and F&B space and a 9,000 sqm Al Mourjan lounge with views over the garden, which will contain a spa, gym, restaurant and business centre.
Meanwhile a new transfer area which will shorten connection times, and the central concourse will accommodate nine new wide-body aircraft stands.
The airport opened in 2014 as a replacement for Doha International Airport and is operated by state-run Qatar Airways.
The airline’s CEO, Akbar Al Baker, commented: “The expansion of Hamad International Airport is a vital part of the future success of the Qatar Airways Group, and of course of the country’s preparations to host the 2022 World Cup and beyond.”
Hamad International recently launched the second stage of its ‘Smart Airport programme’, which is seeing the roll-out of biometric systems across the entire passenger journey.
source: dohahamadairport.com