Qatar Airways commences Doha - Hyderabad service

Amid great fanfare, Qatar Airways flew into Hyderabad today on its inaugural flight to India's fifth largest city, as the airline increases it services to India.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Mr Akbar Al Baker, who led the inaugural Hyderabad flight, was met by Chief Minister of Hyderabad N. Chandra Naidu and Indian Minister of State Tourism Srivinas Yadav.

The arrival of the flight in Hyderabad was heralded by local festivities and a formal welcome.

At a special Iftar ceremony, Chief Minister Naidu said that Qatar Airway's presence in Hyderabad would boost tourism and business trade between India and the Gulf.

Earlier in the day Minister Yadav was able to personally sample Qatar Airways' hospitality and the modern facilities on its aircraft.

The inaugural flight starts a thrice-weekly service between Doha and Hyderabad by Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways will fly to/from Hyderabad every Friday, Sunday and Wednesday and will provide convenient connecting flights to Europe, Middle East & Gulf countries.

The Hyderabad service is Qatar Airways' 3rd Indian destination in a program to serve India better. Qatar Airways already flies from Mumbai six times a week and daily from Trivandrum. It will add the southern Indian city of Kochi to its increasing network in March 2003.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Al Baker said that the extension of services to Hyderabad is recognition of the city's ever-growing importance as a knowledge city.

"Qatar Airways is very pleased to be able to offer this new service between Doha and the thriving city of Hyderabad," said Mr Al Baker.

"With its agglomeration of world class IT and pharmaceutical companies, it is our firm belief that Hyderabad is poised to become an important international destination of the future. Qatar Airways wants to have a presence in Hyderabad and contribute to this exciting growth.

"I want to thank the Indian Government and the Government of Andhra Pradesh for their role in facilitating our presence in Hyderabad and all their cooperation in making this inaugural flight possible.

"We'll be able to offer Hyderabad everything that has made Qatar Airways one of the world's fastest growing airlines.

"This means that customers from Hyderabad will get the best in passenger service, modern aircraft, and convenient connections to the rest of the Gulf, the Middle East and Europe.

"Qatar Airways will offer personalized service to everyone who travels with us from Hyderabad. Our attention to every passenger's needs is how we've built our reputation.

"Besides business travelers, we will also give tourists from Gulf and Europe access to Hyderabad's natural beauty, 400-year-old history, culture, mosques, palaces and forts.

Flights from Doha to Hyderabad will leave on Wednesday and Sundays at 0200, arriving at 0815, departing from Hyderabad at 0930 and arriving at Doha at 1145. Flights on Fridays will leave Doha at 0100, arriving at 0715, departing Hyderabad at 0830 and arriving at 1045.

Qatar Airways will use the modern A300 and A320 Airbus aircraft on its Doha-Hyderabad-Doha service.

Qatar Airways is the national carrier for the State of Qatar. It has bucked the downward trends in international aviation, to record an amazing period of growth. 

"My firm belief is that there is always enough room for the growth of an airline that is willing to offer the best-of-breed services' to its customers," said Mr Al Baker.

"Over the next few years my vision for Qatar Airways is to emerge not only as the airline of choice for the region but the world," he said.

Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world today. At present Qatar flies to more than 35 destinations across the Indian sub-continent, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East and North Africa. By the end of 2004, it aims to fly to around 50 destinations.

It is also undergoing a major fleet expansion in which it will increase its fleet of 18 modern Airbus aircraft to more than 30.

Qatar Airways will soon open a fully-fledged Hyderabad office in the second week of January at Reliance Krishna Building, Hillfort Road, Nowbat Pahad. It will continue to operate from Saifabad until January.