02.12.2008
Doha, 9 March 2008 – Qatar Airways has announced a significant increase in the number of flights to and from Qatar, with new routes all across its global network.
Addressing a press conference on the opening day of ITB, the world’s biggest travel fair in Berlin, Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker said the airline was “gearing up for yet another exciting year of expansion”.
The Chairman of the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid, Mr Hassan Ali Bin Ali, said that the new routes and further planned expansion means that Qatar is becoming more and more easily accessible for visitors.
Qatar has also recently been ranked as the Middle East’s top travel destination in a recent survey by the World Economic Forum. The country was placed 37 out of 130 countries in the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TTCI) 2008, the highest-ranked Middle Eastern country.
The Index looked at a multitude of different parameters in tourism-related issues, but also took into account factors such as law and order and health and hygiene. In the survey, UAE was ranked 40 and Bahrain placed at 48.
Commenting on the result, Mr Ali Bin Ali said: “Qatar is becoming one of the region’s top travel destinations. More and more people want to come to the country, whether for sport reasons, for business, for education or for their holidays.”
He added: “Visitors to Qatar have wonderful opportunities to explore the natural environment, take desert safaris, visit our ancient monuments, relax at our many beaches and pools, or enjoy our unrivalled sports facilities. Whatever your interest, there is something for everyone in Qatar.”
Under the new Qatar Airways expansion plans, a dozen cities will see more flights added to existing frequencies. In addition, Guangzhou, in Southern China, becomes Qatar Airways’ first route launch of the year on March 31 – and the airline is preparing for its third US destination, Houston beginning in November.
Other new flights include an extra daily service to London Heathrow taking capacity to the UK’s busiest airport up to four flights a day; Beirut rising to double daily flights; and both Johannesburg and Seoul going up to daily flights.
Mr al-Baker said that, by the turn of the decade, the airline’s global reach of 81 destinations would extend to more than 100 cities – coinciding with the opening of the New Doha International Airport.
The new services will provide a strong sporting link as Doha hosted the biggest ever Asian Games in 2006, while Guangzhou is set to host the next Asian Games in 2010.