21 November 2008 01:22 GMT
AirAsia Indonesia starts flights to Singapore
London City goes 'silent' this month
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About Qatar
Qatar has undergone a remarkably rapid transformation in the second half of the twentieth century, changing from a sleepy desert peninsula into one of the fastest-growing countries in the world, in both demographic and economic terms.
Qatar’s wealth is new. It is based on energy production, and despite being smaller than the US state of Connecticut the country is estimated to have the third-largest reserves of natural gas in the world. This has created enormous wealth for the local population, and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
The country has also put itself on the map by a number of high profile ventures, not least the Al Jazeera television station, which launched an English-language version in 2006. The national airline, Qatar Airways, has embarked upon a massive expansion plan in the last few years, opening up routes all over the world, while Qatar’s hosting of the Asian Games in 2006 has also helped to raise its international profile.
Tourism, though, is relatively new to Qatar. If you’re just passing through or on a short-stay, then you won’t find the same kind of attractions or sights as you would in nearby Dubai, for instance. But Qatar is beginning to capitalise on some of its natural assets, particularly its spectacular desert landscapes and ‘inland sea’, while the ferocious pace of construction and development in Doha is building hoards of hotels and shopping malls for visitors.
About the airport
Doha International Airport has had to expand quickly due to the rapid growth of Qatar Airways.
The airport has two terminals: the main terminal is used for all economy passengers on Qatar Airways and all passengers on other airlines, whilst the nearby Premium Terminal is used exclusively for First and Business Class passengers on Qatar Airways who are either departing from or connecting through Doha. They are within a short walk of each other.
The small size of the main terminal makes for easy, quick connections, and over 60% of all passengers using Doha airport are on connecting flights.
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