Qatar Airways to launch five new routes in summer 2005

Qatar Airways has announced the launch of five new routes at the start of the summer 2005 flying programme, reinforcing its position as one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.

Osaka, Melbourne, Athens, Tunis and Algiers will be added from next March, extending Qatar Airways' global reach to 64 destinations from Doha, capital of the State of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf.

The route announcement comes just two weeks before the launch of the first of six new winter destinations from Doha, further positioning Qatar Airways as a truly international brand.

They include, Beijing (November 25), London Gatwick (Nov 26), Seychelles (Dec 1), Yangon (8 January 2005), Johannesburg (Jan 16) and Cape Town (Jan 16).

Scheduled flights to Osaka will mark the airline's first entry into the Japanese market while Melbourne becomes Qatar Airways' first Australian destination. The Tunisian and Algerian capitals, Tunis and Algiers respectively, will be another foothold into North Africa, and the Greek capital, Athens, becomes the airline's 10th European city served from Doha.

Announcing the five additional routes at World Travel Market in London, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker said the airline was growing at a phenomenal pace with new aircraft joining the fleet at a rate of almost once a month.

"Qatar Airways is spreading its reach to exciting new destinations to cater for growing demand from a diverse group of travellers, whether they are flying on business or leisure".

During the 2003/2004 financial year, the airline carried 3.3m passengers, up 35 per cent on the previous 12-month period.

Passenger numbers are projected to rise sharply in the 2004/2005 period to 4.5m.

Fonte: The Peninsula Online - 09/11/2004