Hamad International Airport & Shenzhen Airport Sign Sister Agreement, Boosting China-Middle East Connectivity
Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Qatar, operated by Qatar Airways, has signed a Sister Airport agreement with Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) in China, expanding connectivity between the Middle East and Asia. The agreement, signed in October 2024, has already seen a significant increase in passenger numbers from Chinese cities to Doha.
Shenzhen Airlines launched the first scheduled flight from Shenzhen to Doha in October 2024, marking the ninth Chinese destination for Qatar Airways and the first Middle East route for Shenzhen Airlines. The thrice-weekly flights have contributed to a growth of over 2% of passengers from Shenzhen to Doha in the first eight months of 2025.
The agreement between Hamad International Airport and Shenzhen Airport Group aims to strengthen passenger and cargo connectivity, market insights, route planning, and technology adoption. Hamad Al Khater, Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport, stated that the agreement creates smarter, more sustainable journeys and advances stronger economic and cultural ties between Qatar and China. Chen Fanhua, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen Airport Group, noted that the partnership opens new opportunities for trade and tourism and delivers sustainable value to passengers, airline partners, and economies of both regions.
In addition to the new route, Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines have expanded their codeshare agreement. Qatar Airways shares its code on China Southern's flights between Beijing Daxing and Doha, while China Southern extends its code on Qatar Airways flights to 15 destinations in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. This expansion further strengthens the connectivity between the two countries.
With the Sister Airport agreement and the expanded codeshare agreement, Hamad International Airport now connects to nine Chinese cities, serving 1.1 million passengers from these cities in the first eight months of 2025. The agreement between Hamad International Airport and Shenzhen Airport Group is expected to continue driving growth in passenger numbers and strengthening the economic and cultural ties between Qatar and China.
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