Carrier clarifies Doha International will function as tech stop for three months only, with Hamad International remaining the primary cargo hub
Hamad International Airport (HIA)-hubbed Qatar Airways Cargo has clarified reports that it is switching freighter operations to Doha International Airport (DIA), telling Air Cargo News (ACN) that the airport will only be used as a temporary technical stop.
The cargo division of Qatar Airways confirmed to (ACN) that DIA will be used as a technical stop from April to June this year. Technical stops are usually made for tasks such as maintenance and refuelling.
This confirmation from Qatar follows media reports that suggested Qatar Airways Cargo planned to move operations to DIA permanently.
"Hamad International Airport (HIA) remains Qatar Airways Cargo’s primary hub for all cargo operations and will be using Doha International Airport (DIA) only as a temporary tech‑stop during the period April 2026 to June 2026," said Qatar.
ACN has requested more information about the nature of the tech stop and clarification over whether Qatar Airways Cargo will carry out any cargo operations from HIA during these three months.
Qatar Airways Cargo began to move its operations from DIA to HIA 12 years ago due to congestion and capacity constraints at DIA. On 1 December 2013, the first Qatar Airways Cargo shipment was received at HIA, which officially opened in April 2014.
The cargo terminal at HIA had the capacity to move 5,700 shipments simultaneously and to handle 1.4m tonnes of cargo per annum by 2015. This represented a 75% increase from handling capabilities at DIA.
The 55,000 two-floor cargo facility offered 11 widebody freighter aircraft stands, 42 airside loading docks and 32 landside truck-loading facilities with full X-ray screening systems in place.
There is also a live animal centre, a dangerous goods area, a perishable storage area and an automated storage and retrieval system to swiftly locate and process up to 1,000 Unit Load Devices (ULDs) at a time.
