18 Jan 2007
Dubai: Qatar Airways will add nine new destinations to its network this year including New York, Bali, Lagos, Ho Chi Minh City, Chennai, Ahmedabad and two more cities in Europe yet to be announced, a company statement said.
Dar Es Salaam, the commercial and financial centre of Tanzania, has become the newest addition to Qatar Airways' network of routes with non-stop services launched to the city.
Qatar Airways operates four flights a week between Doha International Airport and Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
The route is operated with an Airbus A319 in a two-class configuration of eight seats in Business and 102 in Economy.
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said Dar es Salaam was a key city in the airline's strategy to build a stronger network of destinations across Africa.
"We launched flights to Nairobi at the end of 2005, we have now begun services to Dar Es Salaam and will bring Lagos on line over the next few weeks," he said.
"Africa presents huge opportunities and we see this region as a growth area for Qatar Airways. Dar es Salaam is one of the premier business destinations in Africa and the gateway to major holiday retreats such as game reserves and the spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro."
Al Baker said 2007 would be a year of massive expansion in frequencies, routes and aircraft.
"This is a year of huge celebration for Qatar Airways. We have come a long way since our relaunch in 1997 when we operated a handful of aircraft to a handful of routes," Al Baker said.
"Now, in our 10th anniversary year, we have exciting new destinations joining Qatar Airways' growing network, together with more flights on existing routes to give passengers more choice, and brand new Airbus and Boeing aircraft joining the fleet with deliveries of the first of our Boeing 777s towards the end of 2007."
By Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
