Tag Archives: Doha

Qatar Airways arrives in Philadelphia

Qatar Airways‘ (Doha) inaugural flight to Philadelphia touched down at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) yesterday morning (April 2) marking the airline’s fifth gateway in the United States.

With the launch of the daily service between Philadelphia and Qatar Airways’ hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, the city becomes destination number 137 in the airline’s expanding worldwide network.

Qatar Airways now operates 35 passenger flights a week between the United States and Doha – daily from New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia.

Flight QR 727 arrived to a warm welcome at a grand airport ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries, including Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael A. Nutter, and Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia International Airport, Mark Gale.

The maiden flight carried international media and airline management, including Mr. Al Baker. The new route offers a connection between Philadelphia and a vast number of destinations across the Middle East, Africa, India and Asia Pacific via Doha, while the morning departure time from Philadelphia offers US passengers a unique opportunity to access an entirely new schedule of connecting flights out of Doha.

Mr. Al Baker and Philadelphia airport authorities delivered speeches at Philadelphia International Airport to mark the occasion, noting the economic impact of Qatar Airways’ arrival in the city. “I would like to take this special opportunity to thank the people of Philadelphia and local airport authorities for their great support in helping Qatar Airways launch passenger flights to this vibrant city,” said Mr. Al Baker.

“Today, Philadelphia joins our existing North American hubs: Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Houston and Montreal,” continued Al Baker. “But only our newest gateway offers a unique, morning route to Doha, our earliest departure from North America, and provides passengers with unprecedented access to a new schedule of convenient connections to our entire global network.”

Philadelphia is a key destination for business and leisure travelers alike. One of the world’s busiest airports, it sees 30.5 million passengers a year.

“Our 5-star service begins by forging a connection with the communities we serve and we appreciate the opportunity to work together with this great city,” added Mr. Al Baker.

Mr. Al Baker explained that Philadelphia marked yet another significant milestone for the airline, which is expanding its global network at a remarkable pace.

Qatar Airways’ Doha to Philadelphia route is being operated with a Boeing 777-200LR in a two-class configuration of 42 seats in Business and 217 seats in Economy. The aircraft offers seatback TV screens providing passengers with the next generation interactive onboard entertainment system and a choice of more than 1,000 audio and video options.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 131 aircraft to more than 130 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Qatar Airways is set to launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes during the coming months, including Larnaca, Cyprus (April 29), Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Turkey (May 22), Edinburgh, Scotland (May 28), Miami, USA (June 10), Haneda, Japan (June 18), Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1) and Djibouti (July 27).

In other news, Qatar Airways has begun the rollout of QLOUD, an internally developed mobility application for iPads, which will provide real time and decision-relevant information to the airline’s pilots. Over 500 pilots have already embraced the new technology with 500 more set to begin using QLOUD over the next few weeks. All 2,500 Qatar Airways pilots are expected to be using the QLOUD system by September this year.

Copyright Photo: Qatar Airways. A traditional water salute welcomes Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight at the Philadelphia International Airport on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.

Qatar Airways:

Qatar Airways to add Djibouti on July 27

Qatar Airways (Doha) has announced a further expansion of its route network in Africa with Djibouti joining its ever-growing list of destinations served direct from the airline’s Doha hub.

Thrice-weekly nonstop flights will operate from Doha to Djibouti beginning on July 27, 2014.

The fast-growing airline will launch scheduled flights to Philadelphia and Larnaca in April; Edinburgh and Istanbul (Sabiha) in May; Miami and Tokyo (Haneda) in June and Dallas/Fort Worth in July.

Bordered by Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, Djibouti has an economy that is largely concentrated in the service sector and the country has limited international air services – a void Qatar Airways is set to fill with its huge international network of routes via its Doha hub.

The Doha – Djibouti route will be served with an Airbus A320 featuring up to 12 seats in Business Class and up to 132 seats in Economy.

Qatar Airways:

Qatar Airways announces all business Airbus A319 flights to London Heathrow

Qatar Airways (Doha) has announced the launch of a new daily all premium Business Class service from its hub in Doha to London’s Heathrow Airport.

The new service will be the first of its kind in the Middle East, commencing from May 15, 2014, with an Airbus A319 aircraft fitted with an all Business Class, single aisle, 2–2 seating configuration offering 40 seats.

Qatar Airways currently operates five daily flights to London Heathrow and the additional sixth all Business Class daily service marks the start of an exciting new era for travelers to and from the UK, who can experience complete comfort and privacy with the airline’s award-winning five-star hospitality.

The new additional flight will step up the frequency on the Doha – London Heathrow route from 35 to 42 weekly services.

Qatar Airways has been awarded the World’s Best Business Class Airline for 2013 and has also twice been the recipient of the Airline of the Year Award in 2011 and 2012 at the prestigious Skytrax Airline Awards. The airline has also been named as ‘Best Long-Haul Airline’ for the second year running and ‘Business Airline of the Year’ at the high profile UK Business Travel Awards 2014 recently held in London.

Qatar Airways’ new A319 Business Class seat will have one of the highest specifications for business class travel of any airline with wide seats that recline into fully flat beds and state of the art Oryx entertainment system (with more than 900 entertainment options – movies, television, video games and music).

Passengers can also remain in touch with their friends and loved ones on the ground through the SMS mobile texting GSM and GPRS service upon this aircraft, which is sure to reflect that of a VIP jet experience for those traveling between London and Doha.

Currently undergoing rapid expansion, Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 17th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 129 aircraft flying to 134 key business and leisure destinations across six continents.

Qatar Airways’ first venture into the all Business Class premium market will strengthen its position as one of the leading airlines in the global aviation industry.

As part of its aggressive expansion program, Qatar Airways will launch routes to eight new destinations during 2014: Sharjah (UAE) from March 1; Dubai World Central (UAE) from March 1; Philadelphia (USA) from April 2; Larnaca (Cyprus) from April 29; Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (Turkey) from May 22; Edinburgh (Scotland) from May 28; Miami (USA) from June 10 and Dallas/Fort Worth (USA) from July 1.

The Doha – London Heathrow New Daily A319 All Business Class Flight Schedule (all times local)

Depart Doha QR015 at 14:50 hrs, arrives in London Heathrow 20:25 hrs
Depart London Heathrow QR016 at 21:55 hrs, arrives in Doha 06:40 hrs

Top Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. All others by Qatar Airways. Operated as an ACJ, Airbus A319-133 A7-CJA (man 1656) arrives in Zurich.

Qatar Airways:

Qatar Airways announces a new route to Edinburgh

Qatar Airways (Doha) announced it will begin flights to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh effective May 28, 2014, operating five flights weekly.

The new route will be served by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a two-cabin configuration, offering passengers 22 Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats. The schedule for the new destination is as follows:

Doha to/from Edinburgh:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

QR 027 departs Doha (DOH) at 08:00; arrives Edinburgh (EDI) at 13:15
QR 028 departs Edinburgh (EDI) at 14:45; arrives Doha (DOH) at 23:40

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 128 aircraft to 133 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas.

In 2013, Qatar Airways has launched eleven destinations to date – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman), Basra (Iraq), Sulaymaniyah (Iraq), Chengdu (China), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Ta’if (Saudi Arabia) and most recently Clark Manila International Airport (Philippines).

Over the next few weeks and months, the network will grow further with Hangzhou, China (December 20, 2013), Sharjah and Dubai World Central, both in the UAE (March 1, 2014), Philadelphia, USA (April 2, 2014) and Miami, USA (June 10, 2014).

Qatar Airways:

Qatar Airways is coming to Miami

Qatar Airways (Doha), not surprisingly, given its expanding relationship with American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth), is coming to Miami. The fast-growing carrier will add the Doha-Miami nonstop route on June 1, 2014 with Boeing 777-200 LRs. The route will operate initially four days a week according to the Miami Herald. This will open a lot of Asian one stop connections via Doha’s new Hamad International Airport for South Florida passengers.

The Doha route will be the longest passenger route from MIA at 6,6667 nautical miles, making it one of the longest air routes in the world.

Qatar Airways will join the Oneworld alliance on October 30, 2013.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Update: Qatar Airways made the news official on Monday, October 21 with this announcement:

Qatar Airways, the national carrier for Qatar, has announced Miami (IATA code: MIA) to be its sixth destination to the U.S. beginning on June 10, 2014. The airline will offer nonstop flights from its hub in Doha four-times per week aboard a Boeing 777.

Qatar Airways currently operates to Chicago (O’Hare), Houston (Bush Intercontinental), New York (JFK), and Washington D.C. (Dulles), in the U.S. and will add Philadelphia in April 2014. The airline will operate a Boeing 777-200 LR to Miami with a two-class configuration with 42 seats in Business and 217 seats in Economy.

Qatar Airways will begin operations to and from Miami (MIA) as per below schedule effective June 10, 2014:

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

QR777 Departs DOH 08:40 hrs Arrives MIA 17:20 hrs Travel time: 15:40

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

QR778 Departs MIA 21:15 hrs Arrives DOH 18:20 hrs +1 day Travel time: 14:20

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 129 aircraft to 131 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas.

In 2013, Qatar Airways has launched ten destinations to date – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman), Basra (Iraq), Sulaymaniyah (Iraq), Chengdu (China), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and most recently Ta’if (Saudi Arabia).

Over the next few weeks and months, the network will grow further with Clark Manila International Airport, Philippines (October 28) and Philadelphia, USA (April 2, 2014).

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Qatar Airways Boeing 777-2DZ LR A7-BBG (msn 36101) prepares to land at Johannesburg.

Qatar Airways:

Qatar Airways to join Oneworld on October 30

Qatar Airways (Doha) will become a full member of oneworld® on October 30, 2013, adding one of the world’s fastest growing and most highly rated airlines to the world’s leading quality airline alliance, according to the airline and the alliance.

One of just seven carriers worldwide rated five-star by the Skytrax airline quality agency and the organization’s Airline of the Year 2011 and 2012 and runner-up 2013, Qatar Airways is the only one of the “Gulf Big Three” carriers slated to join any of the global airline alliances.

Qatar Airways received clearance to board oneworld after successfully completing a thorough review of its readiness, conducted by British Airways, which is sponsoring Qatar Airways’ entry into the alliance, with oneworld’s central team.

Qatar Airways completes its oneworld implementation program just one year after receiving its invitation to join, announced at a press conference in the alliance’s New York home in October 2012. This will make its induction into oneworld one of the fastest in the alliance’s history. Normally it takes around 18 months for any airline to be readied to enter any alliance.

Qatar Airways’ addition to oneworld will come shortly before the airline moves into its new home base, Hamad International Airport, which has been designed to strengthen Doha’s position as a premium global hub, with an eventual capacity for 50 million passengers a year.

From its first flights on October 30, Qatar Airways will offer oneworld’s full range of services and benefits.

Also from October 30, the 130 million members of the established oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer programs will be able to earn and redeem awards and tier status points and receive all other oneworld benefits on Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways is already participating in Global Explorer, the round-the-world fare offered by all oneworld members and various airlines that are not part of the alliance. When it becomes part of oneworld, Qatar Airways’ network – serving 130 destinations in 70 countries across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australasia – will be covered by the full and extensive range of oneworld fare and sales products.

More than 20 of its destinations and five countries – Ethiopia, Iran, Rwanda, Serbia and Tanzania – will be new to the oneworld map. More significantly, Qatar Airways will substantially strengthen the alliance’s customer offering by providing superior routing alternatives across many hundreds of city pairs. For example, passengers flying between Asia and Southern Europe or between Asia and Africa will now have convenient one-stop connections not previously available within the oneworld network.

Its implementation, making oneworld the leading alliance in the Middle East region, comes as the group undergoes the biggest expansion in its history with:
• The addition of Malaysia Airlines, one of this industry’s most frequent award winners, six months ago, further strengthening oneworld’s position in South East Asia, one of the fastest growing regions for air travel demand.
• The switch in the second quarter of next year to oneworld from the Star Alliance by TAM, the leading airline in Latin America’s leading economy, Brazil, along with its Paraguayan affiliate, following the addition to oneworld on 1 October 2013 of the newest member of the LAN group, LAN Colombia, solidifying oneworld’s position as the leading alliance in Latin America.
• The introduction early next year of SriLankan Airlines, as the first airline from the Indian subcontinent to join any global alliance, which, with Qatar Airways, will make oneworld the leading alliance in the region.

In addition, US Airways proposes to switch from Star to oneworld as part of its planned merger with American Airlines, subject to necessary approvals.

With Qatar Airways and the other airlines lining up to join, oneworld will:
• Serve almost a thousand airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,000 daily departures.
• Carry 480 million passengers a year on a combined fleet of almost 3,500 aircraft.
• Generate US$ 140 billion annual revenues

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “In Qatar Airways’ relatively short history, we have quickly established a reputation for innovation, quality and excellence in everything we do. We are pleased to build on that by becoming the only major airline from the Gulf to date to be joining any of the global airline alliances. We are proud to entering the best of them, in oneworld – and to be doing so in record quick time. We very much look forward to flying alongside some of the best airlines in the world from 30 October, bringing the heightened benefits offered by oneworld to our customers.”

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Qatar Airways). Airbus A321-231 A7-ADX (msn 3397) climbs away from the runway at the old Doha International Airport. The new replacement Hamad International Airport has been built on reclaimed land adjacent to the old airport.

Qatar Airways:

Qatar Airways resumes Boeing 787 operations, will receive compensation

Qatar Airways (Doha) today (May 1) resumed Boeing 787-8 operations on a flight from Doha to Dubai. The airline also stated it will receive compensation from Boeing due to the grounding according to Reuters. CEO Al Baker also criticized the grounding and blames social media for forcing the grounding.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Qatar Airways:

Video: A peak at the Qatar 787 before it entered original service:

Doha’s new Hamad International Airport opening is delayed

Hamad International Airport (Doha) is the future new home of Qatar Airways (Doha). The new airport, on reclaimed land adjacent to the old Doha International Airport, was due for a soft opening on April 1, 2013 with Qatar Airways making the ceremonial first landing. At the last moment, the opening was postponed. According to this report by The Peninsula, the new airport “did not meet the newly introduced safety and security requirements mandated by the Civil Defence Department.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Map: Google Maps.

Air India Express to be one of the first airlines to open the new Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar

Air India Express (Kochi) will be one of 10 airlines that will open the new Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar on April 1 according to The Times of India. The opening will be a soft opening to gradually open the new airport. Qatar Airways (Doha) will not move to the adjacent new airport until the end of the year. Therefore for approximately nine months there will be two airports in Doha.

According to the report, the other airlines opening the new airport will include Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Flydubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, PIA-Pakistan International Airlines, RAK Airways, Syrian Air and Yemen Airways.

Read the full Times of India report: CLICK HERE

Read more about the new airport from HOK: CLICK HERE

Courtesy of HOK:

Top Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. Boeing 737-8HG WL VT-AYA (msn 36337) in the Ellora elephant statue tail motif arrives at nearby Dubai.

Air India Express (see all of the tails):

Map: Google Maps. The new airport is adjacent to the old airport and was built on reclaimed land.

Qatar Airways to add Belgrade in September via Ankara

Qatar Airways (Doha) is planning to add Belgrade as an extension of the Doha-Ankara route in September following a new bilateral agreement between Qatar and Serbia.

Read the full report from Balkans.com: CLICK HERE

In other news, as planned, the flag carrier added Baghdad and the Doha-Bahrain route with Airbus A320s on June 9. The new route is served on four days a week.

Qatar Airways: