Qatar Airways recently announced its expansion
program was continuing with vigor with plans to launch six new routes in
Europe and Asia from October 2010.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker addresses the
airline’s commercial conference in Doha.
The Doha-based airline will phase in the route
expansion over a four-month period with daily flights to Phuket - after
Bangkok, its second destination in Thailand - kicking off the growth
drive on October 11. The new flights will operate via Kuala Lumpur.
Three weeks later, beginning November 1, Qatar
Airways adds the Vietnamese capital Hanoi to its network with four
flights a week via Bangkok. The new route will support existing services
to Vietnam’s commercial centre and largest city of Ho Chi Minh City,
where flights will also be stepped up from four-a-week to daily.
November 24 marks the launch of the carrier’s
European expansion drive with thrice-weekly flights to the French
Mediterranean city of Nice. Operating via Milan, the Nice operation will
strengthen Qatar Airways’ services to France, where it already operates
to the capital Paris.
Qatar Airways continues their expansion drive.
The New Year sees Qatar Airways’ entry into eastern
Europe with the launch of four flights a week to the Romanian capital of
Bucharest, starting on January 17. The services continue on to Budapest,
capital city of Hungary.
And with five flights a week from January 31, the
Belgian capital of Brussels, home of the European Parliament, rounds off
an impressive list of destinations for the airline, which has maintained
its strategy of opening exciting new routes around the world since
launching just 13 years ago.
Announcing the expansion at the airline’s annual
commercial conference in the Qatari capital Doha, Qatar Airways Chief
Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker spoke of the carrier’s commitment to
develop its route network far and wide from its hub.
“Qatar Airways’ track record to grow remains strong
and solid,” he said. “The airline is well positioned globally, focusing
on a long term strategy that is forward thinking and not one to look
back on.
“Budapest, Bucharest, Brussels, Nice, Hanoi and
Phuket represent markets underserved so these are excellent
opportunities for us to tap into.
“We spend a lot of time diligently analyzing new
route opportunities and I am pleased to say that the routes being
announced today will not only open up new markets, but also strengthen
our network strategy over our Doha hub.”
Added Al Baker, “Today’s route network and fleet size
will increase sharply over the next few years and all of us within Qatar
Airways rise to the challenge by continuing to give our customers the
Five Star level of service they fully deserve.”
By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve 120 key
business and leisure destinations worldwide with a modern fleet of 120
aircraft. Today, the airline’s fleet stands at 84 aircraft, flying to 90
destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North
America.
Starting June 24, Qatar Airways introduced South
America into the airline’s family of routes with the launch of flights
to the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo and Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
South America represents the latest destination for
Qatar Airways this year. Over the past six months, the carrier has
introduced flights to Bengaluru (Bangalore), Copenhagen, Ankara, Tokyo
and Barcelona.
