![Hamad International Airport to restrict access during holiday period](/articles/hamad-international-airport-to-restrict-access-during-holiday-period.jpg)
Doha: Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) has issued a travel advisory saying that access to the arrival and departure terminal building will be restricted to travelling passengers only during the coming holiday period.
“For the convenience and efficiency of departing and returning passengers during the busy peak period, access to the arrival and departure terminal building will be restricted to travelling passengers only between 15:00 hrs and 20:00 hrs from December 17 to December 22, 2019,” the HIA advisory said.
HIA also advised passengers departing during the end-of-year holiday period to be sure to check-in online, arrive 3 hours prior to their flight and use e-gates (if registered) to avoid queues and to continue enjoying comfortable and seamless travel through HIA.
Passengers are also advised to use HIA’s self-service check-in kiosks and self-service bag drops spread across the terminal, which will enable them to check-in, print boarding passes and bag tags; tag their bags, and drop them at the bag drop swiftly before proceeding to border control.
“Passengers departing from HIA are advised to download the ‘HIAQatar’ mobile app available for both Andriod and iPhone for updates and to assist making the passengers journey more seamless with real-time information about flight status, baggage claim, time and direction to boarding gates and food, beverage and retail offers from Qatar Duty Free (QDF),” HIA said.
Passengers are reminded that check-in closes sixty minutes prior to departure time. During security checks, passengers are requested to ensure that they are not carrying any prohibited items such as liquids, aerosols, and gels and to pack any liquid containers in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag with each being 100ml or less. New baggage wrapping centres are located near row 3 and 10 in the airport.
“Electronic items larger than mobile phones need to be removed from bags and placed in trays for X-ray screening. Small vehicles powered by lithium batteries, such as hoverboards, are prohibited for carriage. Passengers are also advised to minimise travelling with pets due to the holiday peak time,” HIA said.