File photo of Hamad International Airport used for representation
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s aviation sector continues to soar, with Hamad International Airport (HIA) and national air transport activity showing solid growth across key performance indicators.
Analysts across the country noted that the latest figures from the Civil Aviation Authority showed that aircraft movements reflect the industry’s resilience and ongoing post-pandemic recovery.
As per QCAA, aircraft movements rose by nearly 7 percent YoY, while passenger numbers climbed over 10 percent, and cargo and courier volumes witnessed a 4 percent increase last month. The sustained growth follows HIA’s record-breaking third quarter, during which the airport handled over 14 million passengers, marking its busiest quarter to date.
Commenting on the results, Aviation expert and Ground Instructor at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Khamis Abdullah Alkhelaifi, underscored the country’s continued momentum as a global aviation and logistics hub.
“October’s performance indicates strong and steady growth across Qatar’s aviation sector, suggesting a continued post-pandemic recovery, rising travel demand, and improved operational efficiency at Hamad International Airport HIA,” Alkhelaifi said.
He explained that the rise in aircraft movements demonstrates increased airline activity and expanding route networks. “More flights are arriving and departing, showing higher airline activity and network expansion. This may reflect stronger international connectivity and potential increases in frequencies or new destinations, particularly from Qatar Airways and its partner airlines,” he said.
Passenger traffic also recorded double-digit growth, which Alkhelaifi attributed to growing tourism and business travel, as well as HIA’s strong position as a global transit hub. “A double-digit rise in passenger flow highlights robust travel demand, both inbound and outbound. This could be driven by growing tourism and business travel, HIA’s status as a major global transit hub, and successful airline partnerships and seasonal capacity adjustments,” he remarked.
The expert lauded the significant performance of cargo and courier volumes, signalling steady trade and logistics activity. “Steady growth in air freight signals resilient trade and logistics activity. HIA continues to strengthen its position as a key cargo hub, supported by Qatar Airways Cargo’s global network and logistics infrastructure,” Alkhelaifi said.
He emphasised that the combination of strong passenger, flight, and cargo performance underscores Qatar’s aviation sector’s operational resilience and market confidence.
“HIA’s busiest quarter underscores strong operational resilience and market confidence. The combined growth in passengers, aircraft movements, and cargo indicates that Qatar’s aviation sector is entering a mature growth phase driven by rising global connectivity, strategic airline partnerships, and continued investment in airport capacity and service excellence,” Alkhelaifi added.
