Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) Steering Committee plans to tender the main contract for the expansion of the airport in early 2018, a year later than originally planned.

The planned expansion will double the airport’s current capacity of 30 million passengers a year by 2021.

Akbar al-Baker, group CEO at Qatar Airways and vice-chairman of the HIA Steering Committee, said earlier this year that the government has approved the budget and the design was being completed.

Al-Baker said the airport processed more than 36 million passengers in 2016, well in excess of the airport’s current design capacity.

It is understood that the expansion plans for the airport comprises three main elements: the extension of the main terminal building; the construction of concourse D and E; and the connection with the Red Line of the Doha Metro.

The main terminal expansion will feature a new premium check-in area comprising 17 new counters, which will be served by a new access road and kerbside drop-off point to the east of the main terminal building. To the west, 47 new economy check-in counters will be built in addition to new baggage carousels

The airport opened in 2014, some six years behind schedule.