Tuesday 27th May 2014 saw the full commercial opening of the new Doha Hamad International Airport when Qatar Airways moved operations from the old creaky airport into a brand new gleaming 15.5bn USD purpose built airport within sight of the old one. The airport actually started operations on 30th April 2014 with 10 low cost carriers and several additional airlines had moved over before QR and the remaining airlines moved on 27th May.
The IATA code DOH has moved from the old airport OTBD to the new airport OTHH effective 27th May and anyone using QR for transit will now use the new airport. The old airport has closed to all commercial traffic but still remains active with the military, visiting exec aircraft, Qatar Aeronautical College, Gulf Helicopters and (for the time being at least) Qatar Executive and the Qatar Airways Amiri Flight.
The terminal shape at the new airport is very similar to HKG in that a plan view would show its shape as a Y on top of a horizontal line with parallel runways either side. The central area is at the base, Concourse A is to the left, B is to the right and C is the long pier that stretches away from the central area. Concourses D and E (which should open late summer 2014) will be the two piers running off the end of C. The Cargo ramp is visible in the distance on the eastern side to the north of the terminal but it will be a challenge to read anything past the first aircraft. Further away to the north are the large QR/Emiri hangars and the Exec/GA area whose ramps are not visible from the terminal. The Emiri Terminal is a VVIP terminal on the east side near the 34R threshold and fairly close to the main terminal. Anything there should be able to be seen from airside in concourse B, although the Emiri Terminal is not open for operations as yet.
There are views from inside the terminal from a spotting point of view although in my opinion they are nowhere near as good as the views from the old airport:
1) landside in the check-in hall there is a panoramic window overlooking the left hand side (west) of the 4 stands on the southern part of A pier as well as the threshold of 34L. There is a panoramic window overlooking the right hand side too of pier B and 34R but it is in an area reserved for QR First Class passengers to check-in so it’s not readily accessible
2) both of these areas however are visible from the roadside on departures level where limited photo opportunities of those stands should be available (but not necessary legal!)
3) views from either of these areas will also allow movements to be seen on the respective runways (arrivals if using 34R/L, departure if using 16R/L) but they will be too distant with lots of obstructions for decent photos
4) once airside in departures level there are views from a restaurant area overlooking the left side of C piers and north side of A pier plus the whole runway 34L/16R. Photos will be possible here through glass and will be the best opportunities from airside in my view although it will be into sun from mid afternoon. There will be similar views I understand from another restaurant area on the right hand side overlooking the right side of C and B piers, but that area is still under construction at present
5) also airside on departures level it is possible to walk to each of the gates and see the aircraft parked there but the areas next to the windows are mostly part of a gate boarding area only accessible if you are flying on that particular flight so it will likely take a bit of effort to get everything and photos will be a waste of time. Also whilst this is possible in daylight it remains to be seen just how much would be visible at night with the reflections from the various layers of glass in between you and the outside. There is a small area between gates C8 and C10 which would give a view through a single glass which is about as good as it gets from a photography standpoint.
6) if arriving then you should have an elevated view of movements and stands for a short while after disembarkation until you get to the transfer or central arrival area where there are no views. Arrivals into Concourses D or E will give an option of a train ride to the central area would mean restricted views of A, B and C but presumably good views of D and E
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