Qatar Airways to Launch Flights to New York, Washington, Bali, Ho Chi Minh, Chennai and Geneva

On Wednesday at the ITB in Berlin, Qatar Airways announced a raft of new destinations being launched over the next few months – including the airline’s first move into the US market – and increased frequency on existing routes.

In March 2007 alone, the airline will have four destinations added to Qatar Airways’ family of routes operated out of its operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.

Scheduled flights to Chennai (formerly Madras), Bali and Ho Chi Minh City will begin towards the end of March. They follow the successful launch of services to Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos earlier this month.

From Summer 2007, Qatar Airways will operate flights to New York, Washington and Geneva, with Stockholm following later this year.

Speaking at a press conference on the first day of the ITB Berlin – the world’s biggest travel fair – Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the airline was gearing up for an exciting few months of route launches and increased frequencies on existing services.

“2007 is an exciting year for Qatar Airways, celebrating 10 years since our relaunch and we look forward to welcoming passengers on our brand new routes and increased services to provide them with greater choice. Our renowned award-winning Five Star service is really spreading to exciting new destinations around the world.

“Our first move into the US market this summer represents an important step in the history of Qatar Airways as we launch not one, but two destinations in North America. The addition of New York and Washington will provide Qatar Airways with access to two key cities and a gateway to the rest of the United States.”

Qatar Airways’ new routes for 2007:

• Chennai daily from March 24
• Bali 4 flights a week from March 24
• Ho Chi Minh City 4 flights a week from March 25
• Geneva 4 flights a week from June 28 
• New York 4 flights a week from June 28
• Washington daily from Summer 2007
• Stockholm 4 flights a week from November 2007

Qatar Airways increases frequency on the following routes from March 25, the start of the Summer 2007 flying season:

• Muscat double daily (up from 11 flights a week)
• Abu Dhabi 42 flights a week (up from 35 flights a week)
• Kuwait 28 flights a week (up from 25 flights a week)
• Algiers 4 flights a week non-stop (previously linked with Tunis)
• Tunis 4 flights a week non-stop (previously linked with Algiers)
• Casablanca daily (up from 6 flights a week)
• Osaka daily (up from 6 flights a week)
• Tehran 10 flights a week (up from 7 flights a week)
• Tripoli 5 flights a week (up from 4 flights a week)
• Vienna daily (up from 6 flights a week)
• Athens daily (up from 6 flights a week)
• Mumbai daily using upgraded aircraft to new wide-body A330s
• Cochin daily (up from 5 flights a week)
• Hyderabad daily (up from 4 flights a week)
• Dar es Salaam daily (up from 4 flights a week)

Qatar Airways is continuing its year-on-year aggressive expansion plans averaging 35% annually. The airline expects to have carried 8 million passengers over the current 12-month financial year, which ends on March 31.

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