AI Express among 10 airlines flying to Qatar new airport

Air India Express is going to be among the first 10 airlines, which will be part of the soft opening of Qatar’s new airport beginning on April 1. The soft opening of Hamad International Airport (HIA) will include other passenger airlines such as Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Flydubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, RAK Airways, Syrian Air and Yemen Airways.

Qatar’s national airline, Qatar Airways, will move its entire operations from the current Doha International Airport (DIA) to Hamad International Airport (HIA) by the end of the year.

The 10 airlines listed will no longer have a presence at Doha International Airport (DIA) and will operate exclusively from HIA from April 1, 2013, a statement said. There will be around 32 passenger flights departing daily from HIA equating to approximately 222 flights per week.

Concourse B at HIA will be fully operational on April 1st for passengers travelling with these 10 airlines. Along with the concourse B opening, the eastern runway, which is the longest of the two runways at HIA will also be in operation.