Doha Hamad International Airport opening (XOZ)

Doha from above - now the city has 2 airports

Today marks the planned opening of Qatar's newest airport, Doha Hamad International Airport (XOZ).

The new Doha Hamad International Airport (XOZ) is slated to eventually replace the existing but old and significantly over-capacity, Doha International Airport (DOH).

Phased opening

The opening of Doha Hamad International Airport (XOD) will be phased. Doha Hamad Airport will have the capacity to handle 29 million passengers a year upon opening, and 50 million upon completion. The first phase is set to begin on April 30, 2014.

Airlines slated to move in the the initial phase include Air Arabia, Air India Express, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Flydubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Syrian Air, and Yemenia.

Cities with flights to the new XOZ Airport, when the first phase of airlines move, will include Chittagong, Damascus, Dhaka, Dubai, Karachi, Kathmandu, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kuwait, Lahore, Mumbai, Mangalore, Peshawar, Sana'a, Sharjah, Shiraz, Sylhet and Thiruvanathapuram.

Qatar Airways and other airlines plan to move by June 2014.

Transportation

The new Doha airport has been built 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of the current airport (aka: old Doha airport).

Doha Hamad Airport taxi services are anticipated to be readily available upon opening.

• Read about Doha Hamad Airport taxi rates, unofficial taxis and taxi scams - including the taxi fare from Doha Hamad Airport

There is a Doha Hamad Airport shuttle bus that operates to/from the existing Doha International Airport, which will be helpful if you have connecting flights, but split between the old and new airports.

• Read more about the Doha inter-airport shuttle bus

Bus service to the new Doha airport is provided by public Karwa buses that pass through the airport.

• Read more about Doha Hamad Airport public bus service

Doha Hamad Airport car rental services will be available upon opening.

• Read more about Doha Hamad Airport car rental services

There is no Doha Hamad Airport train.

The next phase



The Doha skyline

Qatar Airways and other airlines are scheduled to move by June 2014. As there have been numerous delays leading up to phase one, the actual timing for a full transition should be considered tentative.

Tip: if you have a flight to Doha coming up, be sure to check and re-confirm your arrival and departure airport(s).

The new Doha Hamad International Airpot (XOZ) has also been referred to as HIA, New Doha International Airport, NDIA, New Doha Airport, New Qatar Airport, Doha Hamad Airport, Hamad Airport and XOD Airport. Note that HIA is not an official airport code.

More from IHateTaxis:

• Doha Hamad Airport hotel shuttles
• Doha Hamad Airport services and amenities
• All Doha Hamad Airport transfer options (the new airport)
• All Doha International Airport transfer options (the old airport)

Related reading:

• New airport all set for 'inaugural landing'
• Doha's Hamad International Airport to open next week (video)
• New Hamad Airport to host local and international art (photos)
• Work begins on new expressway linking south of Doha to new airport
• Airbus A350 visits Hamad International Airport
• Opening of Qatar's brand new mega-airport delayed at last minute... what happened? (2013)