Qatar Airways to launch Shanghai and Seoul service

Qatar Airways will launch its Oriental Express service to Shanghai and Seoul tomorrow, becoming the first Middle Eastern airline to service South Korea.

The inaugural Oriental Express service to Shanghai and Seoul will leave Doha at midnight tomorrow, as a prelude to the launch of new Qatar Airways services to Singapore, Vienna, Tripoli and Cebu in the southern Philippines, within the next six weeks.

"This is another historic moment for Qatar Airways," said Airline Chief Executive Officer Mr. Akbar Al Baker.

"Qatar Airways will be the only airline from the Middle East to offer its passengers direct access to Seoul in South Korea,"

"It is also the first time that we are opening up a service to the People's Republic of China," Mr. Al Baker added.

"Shanghai and Seoul will become our 43rd and 44th international destinations as we continue to extend our network throughout the Far East."

"Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, and Cebu will join the Qatar Airways-served cities of Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, as we continue to offer our world-class service to an increasing number of cities.

"We will start a thrice-weekly service to Shanghai and Seoul tomorrow, and will begin thrice-weekly services to Singapore and Cebu from December 10," said the Chief Executive of Qatar's flag carrier.

"Qatar Airways will also extend its network within Europe and North Africa within the next month. We will begin a thrice-weekly service to Vienna from November 19 and a thrice-weekly service to Tripoli from November 9,"

"Shanghai and Seoul will become two of 50 cities that we will serve by the end of this year, two of eight destinations that we will serve in the Far East, and two of 60 cities that we will serve within another two years," said Mr Al Baker.

Qatar Airways will use the new and modern A330-200s to service Shanghai and Seoul.