Qatar Airways shares 2017 achievements

Qatar Airways is celebrating growth and network expansion in its 20th year of operations.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar Al Baker, said: “This year, our twentieth anniversary as an airline, is particularly special for us. As we reflect on our achievements, we reaffirm our commitment to providing excellence in the skies, ensuring that our passenger’s holiday or leisure trip starts the moment they step onto one of our aircraft. We remain committed to expanding our global network, and to taking our passengers anywhere in the world they wish to go.”

New destinations for Asia Pacific and the Middle East in 2017 included Auckland, New Zealand – the world’s longest commercial flight; Sohar, Oman; Adana, Turkey; and Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Source: Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways hosted a private gala dinner with influential business leaders, industry experts and heads of commerce to help complete the celebrations for the launch of its newest route to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

In addition to launching flights to Chiang Mai, its fourth destination in Thailand on 13 December, the airline also introduced a fifth daily non-stop service to Bangkok as well as a daily service to Krabi. In January 2018, it will commence service to Pattaya, making a fifth Thai destination.

New destinations for 2018 include Penang, Malaysia and Canberra, Australia. Qatar Airways will also add a new direct daily service to Hanoi, with Ho Chi Minh City’s daily service increasing by three flights a week to 10 starting 1 January 2018.

The airline introduced its superjumbo A380 aircraft to Melbourne, Australia and will soon introduce it on its Perth route, enhancing capacity to Australia ahead of the airline’s launch of service to Canberra in 2018. Qatar Airways also became the first airline ever to fly the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 to the Maldives twice daily.

2017 saw Qatar Airways launch its new Business Class seat, Qsuite, in March 2017, bringing a First Class experience to the Business Class cabin. Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, offers the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class. Adjustable panels and movable TV monitors allow groups travelling together to transform their space into a private suite, allowing them to work, dine and socialise together.

Qatar Airways also responded to demand from passengers seeking to transport their pets around the world by reducing the price to the lowest rates ever into and out of Doha. As the only airline that will carry pets as excess baggage to and from Qatar, the airline has reduced the cost of travelling with a pet.

Qatar Airways Cargo added Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Yangon, Myanmar to its dedicated freighter network in 2017, strengthening its commitment to supporting the global air trade and supply chain industry. Qatar Airways Cargo has accommodated increased domestic demand since the diplomatic blockade on the state of Qatar began in June, 2017. The cargo carrier opened two new facilities during the summer, its dedicated Climate Control Centre and Cargo Overflow structure, providing close to an additional 10,000 sq m of temperature-controlled handling space to manage an increase in food imports into Qatar.

Details:

Flights to Penang run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday:

Doha (DOH) to Penang (PEN)
QR850 departs: 2:30am and arrives 2:30pm

Penang (PEN) to Doha (DOH)
QR851 departs 8:30pm arrives 11:20pm

Flights to Pattaya are scheduled as follows:

Doha (DOH) to Pattaya (UTP)
QR828 departs 8:05pm and arrives 6:30am the next day, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

Pattaya (UTP) to Doha (DOH)
QR829 departs 7:50am and arrives 11:40am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Flights to Adana are on Monday, Thursday and Saturday

Doha (DOH) to Adana (ADA)
QR438 departs 7:20am and arrives 11:25am

Adana (ADA) to Doha (DOH)
QR439 departs 12:25pm and arrives 4:15pm

The Doha – Chiang Mai flights operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

Doha (DOH) to Chiang Mai (CNX)
QR822 departs 7:55pm and arrives 6am the next day

Chiang Mai – Doha flights operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

Chiang Mai (CNX) to Doha (DOH)
QR823 departs 7:10am and arrives 10:55am

Qatar Airways' RAK flights will boost Doha to UAE flights to 196 a week

Qatar Airways has announced that direct flights to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), in the UAE will begin 1 October 2015. RAK, the northern-most Emirate of the UAE, is approximately 45 minutes by road from Dubai International Airport and offers a wide range of activities including water sports, sailing cruises, desert camps, golf courses and mountain adventures.

Operating daily, An Airbus 320 - QR1120 - will depart Doha’s Hamad International Airport at 20:15 hours and arrive at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport at 22.30 hours. The return flight QR1121 will depart at 23:30 hours and arrive in Doha at 23:45 hours.

Source: Qatar Airways. From left: Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His
Excellency Akbar Al Baker, His Excellency Engr Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin
Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

“The UAE is a market that is strong and full of confidence,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker at the launch last week. “Today, Qatar Airways enjoys a robust operation in the UAE with 98 flights a week to Dubai, 28 flights a week to Dubai World Central, 42 flights a week to Abu Dhabi and 21 flights a week to Sharjah. Now with the addition of seven weekly flights to Ras Al Khaimah, Qatar Airways will have a total of 196 weekly flights from Doha to the UAE.”

Having launched Sharjah and Dubai World Central (Jebel Ali) in March 2014 and with the announcement to launch RAK in October this year, Qatar Airways is significantly increasing its operations to the UAE as a result of growing demand for more capacity in and out of the country.

His Excellency Engr Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport said: “Ras Al Khaimah is a global destination for both tourism and commerce and the new daily Qatar Airways QR1120 flight will service up to 400,000 passengers travelling in and out of the Emirate on an annual basis from October.”

Qatar Airways flies 152 aircraft to 146 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Qatar Airways adds flights to Muscat, Islamabad, Tehran from September

Qatar Airways has announced more flights to the popular destinations of Tehran, the capital of Iran, Islamabad, capital city of Pakistan, and Muscat, capital of Oman in response to a steady increase in passenger demand. 

Source: Qatar Airways. From left: Muscat, Islamabad, and Tehran.

The additional flights, which include four for Tehran, two for Islamabad and four for Muscat per week, will commence September 1, 3 and 16 respectively. The Doha-Muscat route will go up from 31 to 35 per week. Qatar Airways has five flights daily to Oman while Tehran, which is currently served with 14 flights a week, will see an increase to 18 flights weekly when it adds the four flights. 

The airline now flies to Islamabad once a day; two more flights added to the schedule bring the number of weekly flights up from seven to nine. Qatar Airways increased frequencies to Islamabad last year, from four flights a week to daily flights. 

The additional flights will help meet the needs of those travelling to and from the Americas, which is a popular destination for many passengers from Pakistan. The short connection time at Hamad International Airport in Doha is another strong draw for those looking to make the cross-Atlantic journey.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said: “People from all over the world are becoming more and more interested in discovering this part of the world. With such rich histories and stunning, undiscovered landscapes, these destinations are hidden gems that are slowly coming into their own.

“We have witnessed a great increase in passenger demand for both local passengers in each market, as well as international passengers looking to travel to each of these cities, and passengers on these flights can look forward to an enhanced travel experience with Qatar Airways’ five-star service as we welcome them onboard.”

The additional Doha – Tehran weekly flight schedule commencing September 1 (all times local)

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays

Depart Doha QR488 at 0720 hrs, arrive Tehran at 1055 hrs
Depart Tehran QR489 at 1155 hrs, arrive Doha at 1230 hrs


The two additional Doha – Islamabad flights commencing September 3 (all times local)

Wednesdays and Thursdays

Depart Doha QR616 at 0050 hrs, arrive Islamabad at 0630 hrs
Depart Islamabad QR617 at 0730 hrs, arrive Doha at 0915 hrs


The additional Doha – Muscat weekly flight schedule commencing September 16 (all times local)

Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Depart Doha QR1126 at 1440 hrs, arrive Muscat at 1705 hrs
Depart Muscat QR1127 at 1805 hrs, arrive Doha at 1830 hrs

Qatar Airways debuts service to Tokyo Haneda

Qatar Airways touched down at Tokyo Haneda International Airport for the first time on June 18, marking the airline’s third destination in Japan and 143rd globally. The inaugural flight also marked the first time that a Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner has operated to a destination in Japan. 

“This new route will provide our passengers, both in Japan and throughout the rest of our network, with even more options and flexibility when travelling, whether it be for business or leisure,” said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker (centre), is joined by Senior Vice President, South East Asia and South West Pacific, Woo Yew Seong (right) and Country Manager - Japan, Tomohiko Matsumoto (left) at a press conference held on June 19, 2014 to announce the airline's new daily direct flight to Tokyo Haneda International Airport.

The daily service to Tokyo Haneda International Airport joins the daily flights already in operation to Tokyo Narita International Airport, giving Qatar Airways passengers two dedicated flights into Japan’s largest city on a daily basis. Qatar Airways has been operating to the Land of the Rising Sun with routes to Osaka and Tokyo Narita since 2005 and 2010 respectively.

The new route, which is operated by an Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy, will bring the number of Qatar Airways’ flights to Japan up from 14 to 21 each week. With the new route, Qatar Airways will be serving travellers from the central area of Tokyo in addition to Tokyo Narita which currently services the population in the greater city area.

The Tokyo Haneda operation provides a non-stop link to Doha with excellent onward connections to more than 100 destinations, including popular spots in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

Daily Schedule

QR810 Departs Doha (DOH) 0735; Arrives Tokyo Haneda (HND) 2325

QR811 Departs Tokyo Haneda (HND) 0100; Arrives Doha (DOH) 0600

Qatar Airways, the State of Qatar’s national airline, has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying 134 aircraft to 143 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Qatar Airways adds more flights to Jakarta to meet growing demand

Qatar Airways is adding four new flights a week to Jakarta, Indonesia, for a total of 18 flights per week. The route, which is serviced by a combination of Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft, will now offer an additional 192 Business Class and 1,888 Economy Class seats per week, an increase of 2,080 seats overall. 

Source: Qatar Airways. Jakarta.

With a population of 28 million, the Indonesian capital is ranked 17th among the world’s 200 largest cities.

The Doha – Jakarta schedules (all times local)

Frequency	Departure City	Flight No.	Departs	Arrives
Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays	Doha to Jakarta	QR956	0125 (1.25am)	1425 (2.25pm)
Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays	Jakarta to Doha	QR957	1655 (4.55pm)	2110 (9.10pm)
Daily	Doha to Jakarta	QR954	0930 (9.30am)	2205 (10.05pm)
Daily	Jakarta to Doha	QR955	0010 (12.10am)	0425 (4.25am)
Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays	Doha to Jakarta	QR956	0215 (2.15am)	1515 (3.15pm)
Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays	Jakarta to Doha	QR957	1745 (5.45pm)	2200 (10pm)
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays	Doha to Jakarta	QR958	1320 (1.20pm)	0210 +1 (2.10am the next day)
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays	Jakarta to Doha	QR959	0410 (4.10am)	0900 (9am)

Qatar Airways moves to Hamad International Airport on 27 May

Qatar Airways will continue to fly to and from Doha International Airport until 27 May 2014 at 9am, after which it will be flying to and from Hamad International Airport instead, the airline said in a travel alert.

Source: Qatar Airways eDM. Hamad International Airport, Qatar.

"During this transition, some of the airport lounges are temporarily unavailable. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and would like to extend to you our unreserved apologies. 

"If you are affected by this situation, please contact the Qatar Airways check in staff at your point of embarkation or the premium customer service desks at Hamad International Airport in Doha for alternative arrangements," stated the the airline. 

Hamad International Airport features 137 counters plus 34 self-service check-in kiosks. High-speed security clearance has been built into the airport, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the buildings. 

Hamad International Airport has been designed to specifically cater to A380 aircraft, with six contact gates designed especially for the superjumbo. In addition, the maintenance hangar at the new airport – which is the largest in the world – is able to accommodate two A380s simultaneously.  

Qatar Airways recently announced that the first of its 13 A380 aircraft on order will commence operations on the QR003 and QR004 London-Heathrow route from 17 June. Its second A380 will be used to fly to Paris Charles De Gaulle airport from Doha from 3 July, on QR39 with the return flight on QR40.

Source: Qatar Airways. A Qatar Airways A380 plane.

Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said: “Operating on the Doha to Paris Charles De Gaulle route, these aircraft, with their customised cabins and five-star specifications, will set a new level of comfort for our passengers, who will also benefit from the smooth and pleasant passenger experience at the world’s newest hub, Hamad International Airport - the soon to be home of Qatar Airways.”

The airline inaugurated a new route to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Turkey on May 22, and will soon be flying to Edinburgh, Scotland (May 28, 2014), Miami, US (June 10, 2014), Tokyo Haneda, Japan (June 18, 2014), Dallas/Fort Worth, US (July 1, 2014) and Djibouti (July 27, 2014).

New Hong Kong-Doha route from Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways of Hong Kong and Qatar Airways, both members of the oneworld alliance, will begin services operated by both airlines between Hong Kong and Doha effective 30 March 2014. 

Under the agreement, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways will each operate one flight between Hong Kong and Qatar daily, offering premium products and services to passengers travelling to and from the two cities. 

Source: Cathay Pacific. Business Class passengers will enjoy the exclusive facilities at Qatar Airways’ dedicated Premium Terminal in Doha.

Cathay Pacific makes its debut on the Doha route on 30 March, launching a daily service using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a three-class configuration: Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.

The new agreement will give customers of both airlines more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer points or miles. Top-tier members from Cathay Pacific’s The Marco Polo Club and Qatar Airways’ The Privilege Club will enjoy reciprocal benefits when travelling on flights between Hong Kong and Qatar, including lounge access, extra baggage allowances, priority boarding and many other priority services.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive John Slosar said: “Cathay Pacific has a strong commitment to serving the Middle East and we are pleased to enter into this agreement with oneworld partner Qatar Airways, and at the same time launch our own new service to Doha." 

Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker said: “The advantages of this agreement, such as premium lounge access and extra baggage allowances, reflect our ongoing commitment to ensure that we offer the highest standard of in-flight experience.”
The combined Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways schedule for Hong Kong (HKG)-Doha (DOH) from 30 March 2014 is as follows (all times local):

Routing	Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Day of the week
HKG-DOH	QR815 / CX 9201	0130	0540	Daily
HKG-DOH	CX645 / QR 5800	1840	2250	Daily
DOH-HKG	CX640 / QR 5801	0145	1440	Daily
DOH-HKG	QR816 / CX 9200	0740	2050	Daily

*Schedule may change without prior notice.