Fact Check: "Hamad International Airport sees around 140,000 passengers daily."
What We Know
Hamad International Airport (HIA), located in Doha, Qatar, is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. According to Hamad International Airport's official reports, the airport has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic since its opening in 2014. In 2019, for instance, HIA served approximately 38.8 million passengers, which translates to an average of about 106,000 passengers per day over the year. This figure reflects a 12.4% increase from 2018, indicating a steady rise in traffic (source-1).
In more recent years, the airport has continued to expand its capacity and services. Reports indicate that HIA is well-positioned for growth, with projections suggesting it could handle up to 93 million passengers annually upon completion of its expansion plans (source-1). However, specific daily passenger numbers can fluctuate based on seasonal travel patterns and global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted air travel worldwide.
Analysis
The claim that Hamad International Airport sees around 140,000 passengers daily is partially true. While the airport has the capacity to handle a large volume of passengers, the average daily passenger traffic has not consistently reached that figure. As noted, the airport served about 106,000 passengers daily in 2019, which is below the claimed 140,000 (source-1).
Moreover, the airport's performance during the pandemic years and subsequent recovery phases has varied. For instance, in February 2025, Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority reported over 4 million air passengers, which averages to about 143,000 passengers per day for that month (source-8). This suggests that while there are periods when daily traffic could approach or exceed 140,000, it is not a consistent daily average throughout the year.
The sources used for this analysis include the official airport reports and credible aviation statistics, which are generally reliable. However, the fluctuating nature of air travel means that averages can vary significantly based on time of year, economic conditions, and global events.
Conclusion
The claim that Hamad International Airport sees around 140,000 passengers daily is partially true. While the airport has the capacity and has occasionally reached this number during peak times, the average daily passenger traffic has historically been lower, around 106,000 in 2019. Therefore, while the figure is achievable, it does not represent a consistent daily average.
