Doha - Qatar Airways has expanded its North African network by launching scheduled flights to Tunis and Algiers.
The airline is operating three flights a week non-stop between its operational hub of Doha, the Tunisian capital of Tunis. The flights continue onto Algiers, the capital of Algeria.
Qatar Airways' inaugural flight carried media personalities from the Middle East and a delegation of airline officials, including Mohamed Saleh Fakri, general manager commercial, Fathi Al Shehab, senior manager commercial operations (Qatar, Levant, Africa) and John Brayford, regional manager, Qatar and Africa.
The inaugural flight was seen off in Doha by Jalloul Al Jareebi, Tunisian ambassador to Qatar and Issa Bikrar, Algerian ambassador to Qatar.
The new routes are operated with an Airbus A319 configured in Business and Economy, as well as an A300, which has a three-class configuration of First, Business and Economy.
The addition of Tunis and Algiers strengthens Qatar Airways' presence in the North African market where it already serves Cairo, Luxor, Khartoum, Tripoli and Casablanca, said a press release yesterday.
Both new routes are designed to provide convenient connections for passengers travelling to and from the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and Far East. "We are delighted to be spreading our wings to these new markets which are underserved from the Middle East," said. Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker. As part of its launch into the two North African cities, Qatar Airways is offering members of its Privilege Club frequent flyer programme double Qmiles for the first full month of the new flights.
© The Peninsula 2005
