Work on the new Doha international airport will begin this year, Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker has said.

To be built at a cost of $600 million, the new airport will come up to the east of the present Doha airport, he said after the formal opening of the airline's state-of-the-art Holidays Centre in the Qatari capital.

Al Baker said the new airport has been planned to cater to the growing needs of the country over the next 25 years.

Qatar Airways Holidays, the in-house tour operator of the national carrier, also launched its first brochure, Taking You Places, containing a wide range of leisure travel options for many popular destinations around the world.

Al Baker cut a ceremonial ribbon and a cake to formally open the Holidays Centre located on the ground floor of the Qatar Airways Tower on Airport Road.

Facilities at the Holidays Centre include two VIP suites for private consultation, a travel accessories store and an Internet cafe.

Al Baker also said Qatar Airways expects a 40 per cent growth in passenger traffic next year.

Qatar Airways is set to increase the number of flights to London, Bangkok and Khartoum while adding new routes Casablanca, Frankfurt and Milan within the next few weeks.

The number of London flights will go up to 11 a week from June 13. The additional flight to Bangkok will depart on Wednesdays. The number of weekly flights to Bangkok goes up to three from May 25.

The number of weekly Khartoum flights will rise to four from three from May 15.