Beginning summer 2007, Qatar Airways aircraft will offer daily scheduled flights from Doha to New York City. New state-of-the-art Airbus A340-600 aircraft, with an onboard first-class lounge, will fly the non-stop US route. Qatar Airways was the first customer for the high gross weight version of the aircraft, which is now flying between Doha and London Heathrow.
Qatar Airways international network is expanding with seven new routes during 2007, beginning on January 3, with Lagos, Nigeria's commercial centre. On January 9, the Tanzania capital, Dar Es Salaam, joins Qatar Airways' network.
In March, Qatar Airways will start flights to Bali. The Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is already on Qatar Airways' routes. Also in March, Qatar Airways will offer flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
In the second half of 2007, Qatar Airways will fly to a new point in Northern Europe, and for the first time, to Eastern Europe.
Since its 1997 relaunch, Qatar Airways flies to 70 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. With its codeshare partners, Qatar Airways serves more than 90 cities worldwide. The fleet of 51 planes carries more than six million passengers a year.
Beginning in late 2007, Qatar Airways plans to buy 20 Boeing 777s, with options for an additional 20 aircraft. The airline plans to more than double their fleet to 110 aircraft by 2015.
The world's only stand-alone terminal dedicated to first and business class passengers, Qatar Airways' new Premium Terminal, will open at Doha International Airport by the end of the month. The new $90 million facility will include a spa, Jacuzzi, fine dining restaurants, duty-free shops and exclusive check-in for premium Qatar Airways passengers.
The terminal building will be ready for the 15th Asian Games, December 1 to 15, in Doha. Qatar Airways is the Official Airline of the Asian Games.
Qatar Airways is one of only four airlines in the world with a 5-Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry auditor.
Earlier this month, Skytrax increased Qatar Airways' global ranking to the sixth best airline in the world, and named Qatar Airways' cabin crew as the second best in the world and the Best in the Middle East for the fourth consecutive year.
