Doha, January 21 (QNA) - Hamad International Airport (HIA) has announced a record year, serving 54.3 million passengers in 2025, underlining its growing role as Qatar's main global gateway.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the airport said the milestone reflected high operational efficiency and continued investment in passenger comfort, sustainability and global connectivity.

Passenger traffic rose by 3% compared with the previous year, with the third quarter emerging as the busiest since the airport opened, handling 14.3 million travelers. August set a new monthly record, welcoming more than five million passengers, the highest figure in the airport's history.

Aircraft movements reached 282,975 during the year, up 1% year-on-year. The airport also handled 2.59 million tonnes of air cargo, a slight decline attributed to fluctuations in global markets. On-time performance remained strong at 85%.

HIA said it continued to expand its global network in 2025, working with 57 airline partners. New carriers, including Virgin Australia, Georgian Airways and Smartwings, joined its growing list of operators.

Qatar Airways also added new destinations, including Aleppo in Syria and the Red Sea Airport in Saudi Arabia, further strengthening air links between Qatar and international markets.

Travel to and from Doha reached 13.5 million passengers during the year, a rise of 5.4%, driven by growth in tourism, trade and the hosting of major international events.

The airport played a key role in supporting Qatar's hosting of global sporting and cultural events, including FIFA-backed football tournaments such as the Arab Cup 2025 and the Intercontinental Club Cup 2025, as well as major business conferences and cultural festivals.

Infrastructure upgrades during the year focused on boosting capacity and operational flexibility. The integration of Concourses D and E added 17 new boarding gates, increasing the use of passenger boarding bridges and reducing reliance on remote stands and bus transfers, particularly during peak travel periods.

Passenger experience remained a priority, with satisfaction levels holding steady at 98%, even during busy seasons. Improvements also focused on accessibility, including enhanced services for passengers with disabilities.

The airport unveiled interactive art installations by artists Gillie and Marc in its Orchard garden early in the year, and closed 2025 with live performances by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, offering travelers a glimpse of the country's cultural heritage.

Hamad International also strengthened its accessibility credentials by achieving Level Two certification under the Airports Council International Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation, and recently launched the Sunflower program to support passengers with non-visible disabilities.

On sustainability, the airport said it achieved its goal of becoming zero waste in 2025, with waste from passenger terminals, airside operations and shared facilities diverted to recycling, composting and energy recovery. The move aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 and embeds sustainability as a core operational standard.

Looking ahead to 2026, the airport said its focus will shift towards further enhancing operational performance, including a major phased rehabilitation of the eastern runway to meet International Civil Aviation Organization safety standards, while ensuring continuity of operations.

Officials said the investments reflect HIA's long-term strategy to prioritize safety, reliability and collaboration, supporting Qatar's ambitions to expand global connectivity and maintain operational excellence. (QNA)