QATAR AIRWAYS sprung a surprise at WTM (see report below) with the announcement that its long time considered Doha airport expansion will be much larger than originally anticipated. Acting as an agent for the government of Qatar the airline is to push ahead quickly with the first USD2bn 12m passenger stage expected to be operational by 2008. Essentially the new airport will be a parallel extension of the original facility on reclaimed land to the east enabling all landing and take-off to take place over the sea. The emphasis of the airport is as a hub for the whole region, operationally equipped for the Airbus A380 from the word go. In the meantime the original facility will be upgraded in time for the Asian games of 2006.
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