Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer will deliver what is billed as a ‘transformative’ address at the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo in October.
Engr. Badr is one of the most-respected executives in the airport world, his vision and drive integral to the next stage of Hamad International Airport’s exciting airport expansion project – key to preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and to the country’s development long into the future.
His multi-media presentation at the Virtual Expo will outline those plans in detail, reveal a few surprises, and include a major announcement.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said: “We’re thrilled and honoured to have Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer present at our Virtual Travel Retail Expo. We’re equally delighted that he has chosen our event to deliver a landmark address on the philosophy and investment that underpin a high-quality, safe and guest-centric airport that will act as a role model in a fast-changing aviation era.”
Hamad International revealed its multi-phased airport expansion plan in 2019 at The Trinity Forum in October which the airport company successfully co-hosted with Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free.
Pioneering event: Virtual becomes reality as the landmark Expo takes shape
Phase A of the expansion will comprise a central concourse linking concourses D and E. It will increase the airport’s annual capacity to over 53 million passengers by 2022.
Phase B, which will be completed after 2022, will extend concourses D and E to further enhance capacity to more than 60 million passengers annually.
The project will feature a 10,000sq m indoor tropical garden; a 268sq m water feature; 11,720sq m of landscaped retail and food & beverage space; and a 9,000sq m world-class Al Mourjan lounge.
Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer with The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie at Hamad International Airport
Focus on passenger comfort, wellbeing, safety
Engr. Badr will also address details of Hamad International Airport’s strategy to achieve the highest standards of cleanliness to ensure the safety of its guests during and beyond the COVID-19 era. As reported, the airport has deployed cleaning robots using ultraviolet light and thermal screening helmets – just one of several new technologies being adopted to combat the coronavirus and other potential infections at the airport.
These hi-tech measures are being deployed alongside other safety methods including strict social distancing, the frequent disinfecting of high traffic terminal areas and the compulsory wearing of masks for staff.
Crucially, all of Hamad International’s retail and food & beverage outlets are encouraging cashless transactions through cards and the airport revealed it is exploring options to introduce online or in-app purchases in the future.
[This video shows how Hamad International Airport is implementing the latest technologies to optimise passenger and employee safety in preparation for post-COVID-19 travel. The airport company is deploying robotics and advanced thermal screening helmets as part of the measures.]
The new Smart Screening Helmets being worn by airport security staff enable contactless temperature measurement of passengers and airport employees. These helmets use advanced technologies such as infrared thermal imaging, artificial intelligence and augmented reality displays.
A significant investment has also been made in the latest disinfectant robots – fully autonomous mobile devices emitting concentrated UV-C (ultraviolet) light, which is known to be effective in eliminating the majority of infectious microorganisms. The airport said that the robots are being deployed in vulnerable high passenger flow areas to reduce the spread of pathogens.
For full details on how Hamad International Airport is ensuring traveller confidence, click here.