ACW - Air Cargo Week
05/08/2012
Qatar sets out its latest plans for growth
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Doha-based Qatar Airways has revealed its latest round of network expansion covering the next six months, with the confirmed launch dates of new routes to destinations in Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.
CEO Akbar Al Baker announced late last month (April) that the carrier will inaugurate scheduled services to Iraq – flying initially to Erbil on 23 May and then to Baghdad on 7 June. Both routes will be flown at a non-stop four times a week frequency.
On 25 July, Qatar Airways will begin flying to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania via Nairobi on a daily frequency.
Then, on 15 August, the airline will open up its third new African connection of this year – daily services to Mombasa via Dar es Salaam (Qatar inaugurated flights to Kigali in March). Flights to Zanzibar in Tanzania are also planned.
Beyond Africa, 3 July will see the first Qatar Airways flights to Perth in Australia. Initially operating at a three times a week frequency, the intention is to move to daily in December at the peak of the holiday season.
In Asia, the carrier is to resume flights to Burma (Myanmar) following a four-year break. Yangon will be served from 3 October.
Finally, in Europe, having already started operations this year to Baku and Tbilisi, on 9 May it will launch services to Zagreb via Budapest. Other new links are expected to be inaugurated to Belgrade and Helsinki.
Together with a number of additional frequencies on both regional and long-haul services out of Qatar, the carrier noted that it will "continue to facilitate passenger and cargo traffic to all parts of the world, offering convenient connections across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America".
Al Baker noted: "We are entering new markets and strengthening our presence in established markets to provide a greater footprint.
"This year alone will see Qatar Airways take delivery of one new aircraft every 15 days, so there are plenty of opportunities to look at introducing them into service on both new and well-established routes," he added.
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