Qatar has approved plans for the expansion of the new Hamad International Airport (HIA) in capital Doha that will help boost its ultimate capacity to more than 65 million passengers, said a report.

The tendering process for the HIA project, which is the third phase of its development, will start this year, reported the Peninsula, citing a top aviation official.

Akbar Al Baker, the Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, the operating airline of the HIA airport, said the design for the expansion of the airport has already been completed.

A new steering committee has been formulated under the chairmanship of Abdullah bin Nasser Turki Al Subae, the chairman of Civil Aviation Authority, with Al Baker as his Deputy.

On the project budget, Al Baker said: “It will be of the same capacity but there is a new steering committee to decide on the budget as of now.”

“The committee will announced the tender and follow all the due process inviting internationally contracted parties to take part,” he added.