Twice-Weekly Flights To Iran's Second Largest City

23 May 2005

Doha, QATAR - Qatar Airways has announced the schedules for its new flights to the Iranian city of Mashad being launched on June 1.

The city will be served non-stop twice-a-week from Qatar Airways' operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar. The route will be operated with an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in Business and 132 in Economy.

Mashad becomes Qatar Airways' second Iranian point to be served from Doha, following the successful launch of flights to the capital Tehran 12 months ago - a route which has grown from strength to strength.

With a population of two million people, Mashad is Iran's second largest city and is the centre of commerce and industry in Khorasan Province in north-west Iran. The city is also the centre of Iran's carpet weaving industry.

To celebrate the route launch, Qatar Airways is offering members of its Privilege Club frequent flyer programme with double Qmiles for the first full month of the new Mashad flights.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the Tehran route had performed extremely well, prompting the airline to step up capacity from four to five flights a week soon after the launch.

"Tehran has proved to be a very important and busy route for Qatar Airways which is why increased capacity last year.

"We are now delighted to add Mashad as our second point in Iran and serve the growing needs of our passengers, many of whom will be travelling from neighbouring Middle East markets to Iran," he said.

"Mashad is the first of our three new routes next month as we launch Alexandria on June 9 and Athens on June 15 in line with our expansion plans. These three new routes alone will take our global network to 65 destinations worldwide.

"Our new routes will be ideal for pilgrims, holidaymakers and business travellers from the region and, indeed around the world, who can feed into our flights in and out of Doha." 

The Doha - Mashad schedules are:

Qatar Airways Flight QR486 leaves Doha International Airport at 1200 hrs on Mondays and Wednesdays, arriving in Mashad at 1545 hrs local time. Return flight QR487 leaves Mashad on Mondays and Wednesdays at 1900 hrs, arriving at Doha International at 1945 hrs local time.

Award-winning Qatar Airways currently operates scheduled flights to 62 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Indian sub-continent and the Far East.

-Ends- 

Notes to Editors:
Qatar Airways' fleet will almost double within a few years thanks largely to a $5.1bn order for 34 additional Airbus aircraft signed in 2003. The airline is one of the launch customers of the twin-deck A380 'super jumbos' with four aircraft on order and scheduled for delivery from 2009 to coincide with the opening of the New Doha International Airport.

Qatar Airways is one of only three airlines in the world to be ranked a Five Star carrier for excellent service and high standards by Skytrax.

Skytrax also ranked Qatar Airways' cabin crew as the best in the Middle East in 2004 for the second year running and fifth best in the world following a survey of more than two million passengers worldwide.

For further information on Qatar Airways' Privilege Club, web users can log onto www.qmiles.com

For Further Information: Salam Al Shawa Senior Manager Marketing & Communications, Qatar Airways Tel: +974 4496956, Fax: +974 4620132 E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa Web: www.qatarairways.com

© Press Release 2005