HAMAD International Airport (HIA) continues to stride on the path of operational excellence, despite uncertainty created in global aviation sector by COVID-19 outbreak. HIA recently became one of the first airports in the world to be awarded ISO 22301:2012 Business Continuity Management System Certification by British Standards Institution (BSI).
The certification has demonstrated airport’s ability to keep critical operations up and running during times of crises. ISO certifications are international benchmarks that highlight strong Business Continuity Management System parameters to deal with disruptive incidents, in order to continue operating essential functions.
It is one of the most rigorous and well-regarded standards in the world and ISO 22301:2012 standard specifies the requirements for a management system to reduce the likelihood of disruptions, ensuring that a business recovers from disruptive incidents.
The scope of the certification covers essential departments of HIA namely Strategy & Commercial Development Facilities Management, Human Resources, Airport Operations, Information Technology, Security, Marketing & Communications. HIA’s operational excellence has also been validated by several awards it has won in the past. HIA, in May this year, was ranked the “Third Best Airport in the World”, among 550 airports worldwide, by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020.
Rising from fourth position in 2019 to third in 2020, HIA has been steadily rising in the ‘World’s Best Airports’ rankings since the start of its operations in 2014.
HIA also continues to retain its five-star airport classification since 2017. These achievements are a result of the hard work and determination demonstrated by the airport staff, to make HIA the ‘world’s fastest growing airport’. HIA’s rankings are also a result of its operational excellence. During 2019, the airport served a record 38,786,422 passengers, the most since the airport began operations in 2014.
HIA registered a 4.7 per cent increase in cargo operations in the first quarter of this year, primarily attributed to Qatar Airways’ and HIA’s continued efforts to provide freighter services in response to the increased demand for essential goods and medical supplies, locally and internationally.
This includes the transportation of urgent medical relief aid and humanitarian assistance, which is pivotal to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. With passengers at the heart of the airport’s strategy, HIA has been investing in cutting edge smart technologies, automation and self-service, as part of its smart airport vision.
Despite all the challenges that the aviation sector faces now a days, the airport is successfully helping travellers reach their home countries safely.
