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지난 주말 카타르의 새로운 관문 하마드 국제공항에 들어서자 터미널 의자들을 덮고 있는 유럽산 천연가죽이 향긋한 냄새를 풍긴다. 마치 고급 스포츠카에 앉아 있는 듯하다.
영국 명품백화점 헤로즈를 비롯해 해외브랜드 매장과 각종 편의시설들이 카타르왕가의 재력과 고급스러운 취향을 반영하고 있다.
터미널 중앙에 위치해 랜드마크 역할을 하는 것은 7미터가 넘는 대형 테디베어다. 세계적인 설치 미술가 우르스 피셔(Urs Fischer)의 작품으로 가격은 6백8십만달러를 호가한다. 이외에도 공항 곳곳에 28개의 왕가 소유의 예술작품들이 자리하고 있다.
특히 많은 승객들이 모여 있는 곳은 “애플 스테이션”으로 공항으로는 드물게 애플의 최신 맥컴퓨터를 이용해 무선인터넷을 무료로 사용할 수 있도록 해놓았다.
국적기인 카타르항공의 한 관계자는 “승객들에게 보다 편안하고 럭셔리한 휴식을 제공하기위해 최적화된 공항”이라며 칭찬을 아끼지 않았다.
실제로 하마드공항을 이용하는 승객 대부분은 전대륙으로 여행하는 환승객들이다. 아시아에서 유럽여행이 인기를 끌면서 최근에는 한국을 비롯해 중국, 일본 여행객들이 많이 눈에 띄었다.
카타르는 십여년 전 기존 구 도하 국제공항을 대체하기 위해 신 공항 건설에 착수했다. 공항 부지의 약 60%를 아라비안 걸프만을 개간해 확보하는 등 155억 달러가 들어간 대형 프로젝트이다.
개항이 여러 번 미뤄지는 등 우여곡절을 겪었지만 5월 마침내 운영을 시작했고 항공사들은 물론 승객들의 초기 반응은 긍정적인 편이다. 올해 7월에만 이용객수가 지난해에 비해 10% 이상 성장해 2백만명을 넘었다.
“하늘 위의 호텔”이라고 불리는 에어버스 A380을 위해 특별히 제작된 “세계 최장 활주로”로 화제이고 격납고 역시 A380을 동시에 2대 수용할 수 있는 최대 최고 규모이다.
최근 A380여객기를 13대 주문해놓은 카타르항공은 올해 여름 런던과 파리 노선을 시작으로 향후 단계적으로 취항을 준비하고 있다.
다양한 편의시설들 중에서도 공항은 물론 카타르항공이 가장 신경을 쓴 부분은 바로 비즈니스 라운지. 비즈니스와 퍼스트 클래스 승객들은 전용 출국장을 통해 공항에 들어오게 되는데 이들을 맞이하는 것은 1만 제곱미터에 달하는 알 무르잔 (Al Mourjan) 비즈니스 라운지이다.
세계 최대의 공항 라운지로 올림픽 수영장 10개에 해당되는 크기이다. 개인 작업공간, 샤워실 등은 물론 아이들과 여행하는 승객들을 위해 가족실이 따로 운영되는 것도 특징이다.
특히 백미는 부페나 일품요리를 선택할 수 있는 식당으로 고급레스토랑 못지 않은 맛과 분위기를 자랑한다.
카타르항공은 조만간 알 사파(Al Safwa) 퍼스트 클래스 라운지를 비롯해 이코노미 클래스나 장애를 가진 승객들을 위한 전용 라운지도 선보일 예정이다.
회사 관계자는 “최근 항공사들은 수익성을 높이기 위해 앞다퉈 프리미엄승객 유치에 사활을 걸고 있다. 새단장을 한 허브공항을 통해 카타르항공의 경쟁력도 한층 강화될 것으로 보인다”고 말했다.
카타르항공은 또한 도하시티투어나 사막사파리 등의 프로그램들을 확충해 환승도시로서 도하의 매력을 알리는데도 노력을 기울이고 있다.
(코리아헤럴드 이지윤기자)
<관련 영문 기사>
Unrivaled luxury at Qatar’s new airport
DOHA, Qatar -– An amalgam of odors from fresh materials lingered at Hamad International Airport, Qatar’s new gateway that opened on May 27.
The odor gently blended in with the genuine European leather that was used on the airport couches to create an aroma that reminded one of being inside a luxury sports car.
“Since long layovers are typical for travelers using the airport and many flights depart after midnight, the terminal is designed for a more relaxing and luxurious stay,” said an official of Qatar Airways, the largest tenant at the airport.
In reflection of the burgeoning economy of the Gulf nation, luxury adorns every corner of the $16 billion Hamad Airport.
It took almost a decade to build the sprawling ultramodern terminals on the 22-square-kilometer site, half of which is reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf.
It is at the airport that the world’s longest runway is designed and built specifically for the Airbus double-decker A380. It is also home to the world’s largest hangar that can house two A380 jumbo jets at a time.
Inside the airport is a shopping emporium with 70 retail outlets -- including luxury brands such as Hermes, Chanel and Bulgari -- along with 30 cafes and restaurants, luxury business lounges and a public mosque.
An Apple station offers free desktops, recliners, showers, prayer rooms and play areas for kids. Free Wi-Fi service is offered all throughout the airport.
Next year, two transit hotels, squash courts, swimming pools and a sky train will be built in the airport as well.
Meanwhile, the taste of the Qatar royals was prevalent in all the decor.
At the main point of the terminal is a 7-meter-tall Urs Fischer sculpture of a teddy bear impaled by a giant desk lamp. The $6.8 million piece, purchased by a member of the royal family, is one of 28 art installations at the airport.
The country’s flag carrier Qatar Airways is now ramping up efforts to take advantage of its hub airport’s luxury makeover.
The airline recently started operating two A380 aircrafts on the long-haul routes to London and Paris and plans to introduce dozens of the jumbo aircraft in phases in the coming years.
Among other things, it poured considerable resources into its 10,000-square-meter Al Mourjan Business Lounge. Equivalent to the size of 10 Olympic pools, it is the largest airport lounge in the world.
Exclusively available to Qatar’s and Oneworld’s first- and business-class passengers, the premium lounge boasts private workstations, luxurious shower rooms and family rooms for those traveling with children.
For dining, passengers can choose buffet or a la carte; venues include brasseries, a deli, a bar and a patisserie.
The carrier also plans to add more lounges, including the ultraluxurious Al Safwa First Class Lounge and those specifically for economy-class and handicapped passengers.
“At a time when airline companies are putting their priority on luring premium passengers, especially from Asia, for better profits, the new airport will further boost our upscale push,” said the Qatar official.
Considering most of its customers are transit travelers, the company is also beefing up programs for them like a city tour to downtown Doha and a desert safari to promote the key attractions of Doha, as a global transit hub.
The airport saw an 11.36 percent passenger increase to more than 2 million travelers in July compared to a year ago. When its planned expansion finishes next year, its passenger capacity is planned to surge to an annual 50 million people.
By Lee Ji-yoon Korea Herald correspondent (jylee@heraldcorp.com)
Unrivaled luxury at Qatar’s new airport
DOHA, Qatar -– An amalgam of odors from fresh materials lingered at Hamad International Airport, Qatar’s new gateway that opened on May 27.
The odor gently blended in with the genuine European leather that was used on the airport couches to create an aroma that reminded one of being inside a luxury sports car.
“Since long layovers are typical for travelers using the airport and many flights depart after midnight, the terminal is designed for a more relaxing and luxurious stay,” said an official of Qatar Airways, the largest tenant at the airport.
In reflection of the burgeoning economy of the Gulf nation, luxury adorns every corner of the $16 billion Hamad Airport.
It took almost a decade to build the sprawling ultramodern terminals on the 22-square-kilometer site, half of which is reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf.
It is at the airport that the world’s longest runway is designed and built specifically for the Airbus double-decker A380. It is also home to the world’s largest hangar that can house two A380 jumbo jets at a time.
Inside the airport is a shopping emporium with 70 retail outlets -- including luxury brands such as Hermes, Chanel and Bulgari -- along with 30 cafes and restaurants, luxury business lounges and a public mosque.
An Apple station offers free desktops, recliners, showers, prayer rooms and play areas for kids. Free Wi-Fi service is offered all throughout the airport.
Next year, two transit hotels, squash courts, swimming pools and a sky train will be built in the airport as well.
Meanwhile, the taste of the Qatar royals was prevalent in all the decor.
At the main point of the terminal is a 7-meter-tall Urs Fischer sculpture of a teddy bear impaled by a giant desk lamp. The $6.8 million piece, purchased by a member of the royal family, is one of 28 art installations at the airport.
The country’s flag carrier Qatar Airways is now ramping up efforts to take advantage of its hub airport’s luxury makeover.
The airline recently started operating two A380 aircrafts on the long-haul routes to London and Paris and plans to introduce dozens of the jumbo aircraft in phases in the coming years.
Among other things, it poured considerable resources into its 10,000-square-meter Al Mourjan Business Lounge. Equivalent to the size of 10 Olympic pools, it is the largest airport lounge in the world.
Exclusively available to Qatar’s and Oneworld’s first- and business-class passengers, the premium lounge boasts private workstations, luxurious shower rooms and family rooms for those traveling with children.
For dining, passengers can choose buffet or a la carte; venues include brasseries, a deli, a bar and a patisserie.
The carrier also plans to add more lounges, including the ultraluxurious Al Safwa First Class Lounge and those specifically for economy-class and handicapped passengers.
“At a time when airline companies are putting their priority on luring premium passengers, especially from Asia, for better profits, the new airport will further boost our upscale push,” said the Qatar official.
Considering most of its customers are transit travelers, the company is also beefing up programs for them like a city tour to downtown Doha and a desert safari to promote the key attractions of Doha, as a global transit hub.
The airport saw an 11.36 percent passenger increase to more than 2 million travelers in July compared to a year ago. When its planned expansion finishes next year, its passenger capacity is planned to surge to an annual 50 million people.
By Lee Ji-yoon Korea Herald correspondent (jylee@heraldcorp.com)
