Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) has built a reputation as one of the world’s most efficient aviation hubs, moving tens of millions of passengers each year with remarkable speed and precision.

Yet, like at any global gateway, travelers can still encounter bottlenecks at security checkpoints. Whether arriving, departing, or transiting, understanding what typically causes these delays can help passengers better prepare—and avoid unnecessary stress.

Here are five common factors that can slow you down at HIA security:

1. High Passenger Volumes and Flight Disruptions

Peak travel seasons, major sporting events, and religious holidays such as Ramadan or Eid put extra pressure on the airport’s security system. Add to that sudden flight diversions or airspace closures in the region, and queues can swell quickly.

After the missile strikes near Qatar in early 2025, for instance, thousands of rerouted travelers faced extended waits due to heightened screening protocols. Even in a hub designed for efficiency, extraordinary surges can stretch security resources and extend wait times.

2. Multiple Screenings for Transit Passengers

For passengers connecting through Doha, the journey through security isn’t always one-and-done. Travelers from countries categorized as “non-clean” may be required to pass through security twice: once upon arrival and again before boarding their onward flight.

 While this extra step is crucial for maintaining safety standards, it can add minutes—or even longer during peak hours—to an already tight transfer window.

3. Strict Prohibited-Item Policies

Hamad Airport enforces some of the strictest rules in the region when it comes to prohibited goods. Confiscated items range from weapons and ammunition to alcohol, pork products, narcotics, and even excess quantities of currency, jewelry, or tobacco.

Travelers unfamiliar with these regulations often find themselves delayed while officers inspect baggage or confiscate restricted items. With customs declaring limits as precise as 400 cigarettes or personal goods worth over QAR 3,000 (USD 825), even honest mistakes can slow your exit or transfer.

4. Security Alerts and Enhanced Screening Measures

When regional intelligence indicates a potential threat, HIA introduces additional security layers. This might involve random passenger checks, more intensive baggage screening, or manual inspections.

 Though these measures are temporary and intended to safeguard all travelers, they inevitably add friction to the usually fast-moving security process.

5. Limited Screening Lanes During Off-Peak Hours

HIA has expanded its screening infrastructure, ensuring that under normal circumstances, 95% of transfer passengers wait less than five minutes at security. However, during quieter hours, not all lanes are fully staffed or operational.

If an unexpected influx of passengers arrives—say, from delayed connecting flights—queues can build quickly until more lanes are reopened.

Staying Ahead of Delays

Despite these potential hurdles, Hamad International Airport remains one of the most efficient global transit hubs. Dedicated lanes for premium-class travelers, Al Maha service users, unaccompanied minors, and passengers requiring assistance help keep flows moving.

Free re-sealable bags for liquids are readily available, and clear signage directs travelers through customs channels.

Still, seasoned flyers know the golden rule: build in extra time. Arriving prepared—by packing liquids correctly, knowing what not to carry, and understanding customs limits—can mean the difference between a smooth transit and a stressful rush through security.

In today’s aviation climate, efficiency and vigilance must coexist. At Hamad International Airport, passengers can expect both—but a little foresight goes a long way.

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Etihad Airways has achieved a historic milestone by carrying over 2 million passengers in a single month for the first time in its history, according to its August 2025 traffic statistics. This marks a 22 percent increase compared to August 2024, reflecting strong demand and efficient utilization of the airline’s expanding capacity.

In August alone, Etihad welcomed exactly 2.0 million guests, boosting its passenger load factor to 91 percent, up from 89 percent in the same month last year. This demonstrates the airline’s ability to fill seats effectively amid rising travel demand. Year-to-date, Etihad has carried 14.2 million passengers—a substantial 18 percent increase over the same period in 2024—with an average load factor of 88 percent.

Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves described August as a "landmark month," crediting the airline's success to the trust passengers place in its people and the exceptional service they provide daily. “This record performance, combined with 22 percent year-on-year growth and a 91 percent load factor, reflects the confidence travelers have in Etihad,” Neves said.

Supporting this growth is Etihad’s expanded operating fleet, which reached 112 aircraft, allowing the airline to serve 81 passenger destinations worldwide. Notably, August also saw the entry into service of Etihad’s new Airbus A321LR, a first for the region in bringing wide-body luxury features—such as First Class suites and lie-flat Business seats—to a narrow-body aircraft on medium-haul routes. This upgrade underscores Etihad's strategic focus on enhancing the passenger experience across its network.

The airline’s network continues to broaden with over 20 additional routes confirmed, as Etihad aims to connect more cities through its Abu Dhabi hub while promoting tourism and business in the emirate. Industry analysts see Etihad’s robust growth as a sign of resilience and expanding market share in a competitive Middle Eastern aviation landscape recovering from pandemic disruptions.

Etihad’s breakthrough August figures and year-to-date growth reflect strong travel demand recovery, fleet modernization, and product innovation that keeps pace with evolving passenger expectations. The airline’s success also exemplifies the region’s ongoing recovery as it capitalizes on its strategic geographic position linking multiple continents.

Pakistani low-cost carrier Fly Jinnah has launched direct non-stop flights between Dubai and Lahore, with operations commencing on October 29, 2025. The new service will operate twice weekly, every Wednesday and Sunday, connecting Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore with Dubai International Airport. This route makes Dubai the second UAE destination served by Fly Jinnah from Lahore, alongside Sharjah, offering travelers enhanced connectivity to two major UAE cities.

Fly Jinnah, a joint venture between Pakistan’s Lakson Group and the UAE’s Air Arabia Group, operates a modern fleet of six Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline emphasizes comfort and value, providing passengers with spacious economy-class legroom, an onboard menu, extra legroom seating options, free in-flight streaming through its “SkyTime” entertainment service, and a loyalty program called "Air Rewards" which allows passengers to earn and redeem points.

Besides the Dubai and Sharjah services, Fly Jinnah’s international network includes direct flights from Lahore to key Saudi Arabian cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, as well as connections to Bahrain. This expanding network places Fly Jinnah as a growing competitor in the region’s low-cost carrier market, catering primarily to the Pakistani diaspora and business travelers who seek affordable and reliable travel options between Pakistan and the Middle East.

The twice-weekly Dubai flights open new opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Pakistan and the UAE. Bookings for these flights are available via Fly Jinnah’s official website, call centers, and authorized travel agencies, reinforcing the airline’s goal to facilitate smooth and accessible travel for its passengers.

Overall, Fly Jinnah’s launch of Dubai-Lahore flights complements its robust international route portfolio and demonstrates the airline’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the Gulf region while maintaining strong service standards and affordable pricing for travelers

American Airlines has disbursed $32 million in boarding pay to flight attendants between April and August 2025, marking a significant shift in how the Fort Worth-based carrier compensates its crew for ground duties. This new pay policy addresses long-standing inequities in flight attendant compensation by recognizing the value of time spent during boarding—a historically unpaid, yet highly demanding, part of their workday.

Traditionally, U.S. airlines, including American, only paid flight attendants for time spent in the air. Ground activities such as boarding, deplaning, and waiting between flights—often referred to as “sits”—were unpaid, creating financial challenges especially for junior staff handling multiple short-haul flights daily. To offset this, airlines increased base hourly rates, benefiting senior crew members who flew extended international routes, while newer attendants faced fragmented schedules and uncovered ground duties.

The new boarding pay policy at American Airlines pays flight attendants at 50% of their regular hourly flight rate for the time spent boarding passengers, starting from gate arrival until aircraft pushback. This change particularly benefits junior crew members with lower seniority who typically work short domestic segments. According to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the boarding phase is among the most stressful and busiest times for crew, involving coordination, passenger interaction, and safety checks.

Industry context shows that American Airlines is part of a growing trend toward equitable ground compensation. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and regional carrier SkyWest have also introduced boarding pay, reflecting a broader shift in the U.S. aviation sector to better align compensation with actual work performed. APFA has praised these moves but continues to push for more comprehensive pay reforms that include all ground duties such as deplaning, layovers, and airport tasks.

In addition to boarding pay, American Airlines and the APFA recently implemented a new rule addressing prolonged “sits”—periods on the ground exceeding two and a half hours without flying. Under the agreement, flight attendants earn pay for extended waits at a rate of one minute for every two minutes of additional ground time. Between April and May 2025, this provision compensated 18,000 attendants, offering critical financial relief and discouraging airline scheduling practices that could cause fatigue and inefficiency.

Labor experts suggest that while boarding pay increases operational costs, it also improves crew morale, motivation, and potentially enhances service quality during peak boarding periods. American Airlines benefits from a more engaged workforce and improved retention, particularly among newer employees. However, ongoing negotiations face challenges as airlines seek to balance these costs with potential adjustments to flying pay rates, which has raised concern among senior long-haul crew members worried about income loss.

Looking ahead, APFA advocates for extending paid compensation across all ground activities to fully acknowledge flight attendants’ comprehensive work efforts. Other carriers and unions are closely watching American Airlines’ experience as boarding pay may set a new industry standard for fairer, more transparent crew compensation in U.S. aviation.

This recent policy and union contract progress underline important steps toward improving working conditions and financial fairness for flight attendants amid increasing operational demands.

Cathay Pacific has announced a temporary suspension of all flights between Hong Kong and Kathmandu from Monday, September 15 through Tuesday, September 30, 2025. The airline cited safety concerns after a thorough assessment of the situation in Kathmandu and took the decision "out of an abundance of caution." Services are expected to resume on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

This move comes after an incident during protests in Kathmandu where Cathay Pacific staff were allegedly manhandled amid vandalism, notably at the Hotel Hyatt. The airline operates one daily flight on this route using Airbus A330-300 aircraft, with flight timings typically departing Hong Kong at 19:15 and arriving in Kathmandu at 21:45, and the return flight leaving Kathmandu at 23:00 arriving Hong Kong early next day.

Passengers affected by the suspension are being offered full flexibility under the airline's ticket-waiver policy. They can either rebook their flights for travel from October 1 onward or opt for a full refund. However, Cathay Pacific acknowledged that alternative flights are limited, which may make rebooking challenging. Passengers are advised to contact their travel agents or Cathay Pacific's customer care for assistance with cancellations, refunds, or rescheduling.

The suspension includes passengers traveling directly from Hong Kong to Kathmandu as well as those transiting through Hong Kong from Australia or other locations. The airline stated it is closely monitoring political developments in Nepal and will reassess the situation for potential flight resumption after the suspension period.

This flight suspension disrupts travel plans especially close to the festive season, impacting many travelers heading to Nepal. Cathay Pacific expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and appreciated customers' understanding during this period.

Source details are from the official airline notices and news reports dated September 11-14, 2025, including statements from Cathay Pacific and coverage by The Himalayan Times and other news outlets.

Etihad Airways has achieved a historic milestone in August 2025 by carrying more than 2 million passengers in a single month for the first time ever, marking a 22% year-on-year increase compared to August 2024. The airline reported a passenger load factor of 91%, up from 89% last year, underscoring strong demand and efficient use of capacity.

Etihad’s operating fleet expanded to 112 aircraft, serving 81 passenger destinations, with the introduction of the new Airbus A321LR that brings First Class suites and lie-flat Business seats to narrow-body medium-haul routes for the first time in the region. Year-to-date, the airline has carried 14.2 million passengers, an 18% rise from the same period in 2024, maintaining an 88% average load factor.

On the financial front, Etihad reported its strongest-ever half-year performance for the first six months of 2025. Profit after tax surged by 32% to AED 1.1 billion (USD 306 million) compared to the previous year, driven by robust demand, operational productivity, and improved yields in both passenger and cargo sectors.

Total revenue climbed 16% year-on-year, with passenger and cargo revenues growing 16% and 9%, respectively. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose 24% to AED 2.7 billion (USD 739 million), with the EBITDA margin improving to 20%, up one percentage point from 2024.

Etihad carried 10.2 million passengers in the first half of 2025, a 17% increase year-on-year, supported by a 14% rise in available seat kilometres (ASK) and an improved average load factor of 87%. In July, the airline surpassed the milestone of 20 million passengers over the previous 12 months, doubling its 2022 total and confirming its status as the fastest-growing airline in the region.

Fleet expansion continues with the delivery of its sixth Airbus A350, the return of a seventh A380, and a landmark order for 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft, reflecting strong long-term growth ambitions. July saw Etihad add five new jets including its first A321LR, marking the highest number of aircraft deliveries ever received in one month.

As of mid-2025, Etihad serves nearly 90 destinations worldwide, with 27 new routes launched or announced this year alone. This growth enhances Abu Dhabi’s position as a major global hub, increasing connectivity and attracting millions of visitors. Customer satisfaction also improved across airport services, onboard experience, and digital platforms, with the airline’s First Class Net Promoter Score consistently high at 80—among the best in the industry—while maintaining stable unit costs despite service upgrades.

CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted that this record-breaking month and half-year reflect the trust travelers place in Etihad’s people and their commitment to delivering extraordinary service. The airline's strategy focuses on sustainable expansion, investing in premium experiences, and connecting more travelers through Abu Dhabi, positioning the emirate as a vibrant destination for global visitors.

Additionally, Etihad hired over 1,700 new employees in the first half of 2025, including more than 100 pilots and 1,000 cabin crew, supporting its rapid growth and operational excellence.

These results mark a new era of growth, investment, and service leadership for Etihad Airways as it continues to set new standards in aviation, fueled by strategic fleet expansion, network growth, and a superb customer experience.