Congrats! Akbar way to goooo!

[jet4hire]

Qatar Airways has plans to add 20 destinations to its existing route network by 2005. The expanded network will consist of 70 cities across five continents, including the United States.

Osaka in Japan and Johannesburg in South Africa will be among the new destinations Qatar Airways will be serving. A four-times-a-week service to Osaka will be inaugurated on December 8 this year, while flights to Johannesburg will start from January next year.

This was announced by Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai. Akbar said services to USA would be launched by the end of next year.

Operations to Tehran will be inaugurated on June 16, to Luxor on June 22 and to Istanbul on June 30, while the Zurich service will begin from July 8 this year, said Akbar.

Members of the foreign media had turned up in large numbers at the press meet.

Present with Akbar were the CEO of Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), Fred van Eijk, Mohamed Fakhri, general manager (commercial) of Qatar Airways, and Ali Al Rais, regional manager.

“Qatar Airways has established itself as a carrier of business as well as leisure travellers, and as such our new destinations comprise some popular tourism spots as well as cities that are attractive to all kinds of travellers,” said the CEO.

Tehran, which will be the airline’s 50th destination, had been on its agenda for a long time, said Akbar.

The airline has recently signed an agreement that allows it to begin flights to Osaka and “we are pleased to announce this first destination to the Land of the Rising Sun,” he remarked.

Answering questions later, Akbar hinted that Qatar Airways, which has so far been an all Airbus airline, may ask both Airbus and Boeing to present their offers for its future fleet requirements.

He said in reply to another question that Qatar Airways had so far spent $8.2bn on its growth and from five aircraft, it today had a fleet of 33.

The international media was curious to know if Qatar Airways had plans to start a low-cost airline. Replying in the negative, Akbar said he had been answering this question repeatedly. He also made a brief presentation on the new Doha International Airport.

:ok:

[moremilk]

fingers crossed he gets the crew and more importantly he keeps them.

[StandAlone]

New services to begin to Johannesburg, Tehran and Osaka within the year

Qatar Airways will add another 20 new destinations to its growing route network by 2005, to fly to 70 destinations across five continents and confirm its place as one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.

Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive Officer Mr Akbar Al Baker announced today at the Arabian Travel Market that the newly crowned five-star airline will be servicing 70 destinations across five continents — including the United States — by the end of 2005,

Mr Al Baker also announced new services to Osaka, Tehran, and Johannesburg that will begin within the next year.

These new destinations are in addition to the previously announced destinations of Luxor, Istanbul, Zurich, Kabul which Qatar Airways will launch during the next six months. The airline has already begun services to Islamabad.

Today’s announcement comes hot-on-the-heels of Qatar Airways’ entry into the exclusive club of three airlines that have been awarded Five Star status by the independent airline quality monitor Skytrax.

“Qatar Airways will build a route network of 70 destinations as part of its strong service philosophy to deliver the best quality airline service in the world,” said Mr Al Baker.

“As part of that commitment I have the pleasure to announce we will be beginning new services to Osaka, Tehran, and Johannesburg by January next year,” said Mr Al Baker.

“By the end of 2005, Qatar Airways will have added 30 new destinations to its route network in just three years.

“Our recent elevation into the exclusive group of three airlines that have received Skytrax’s Five-Star rating, clearly demonstrates that Qatar Airways has maintained out high service standards while we grow. And we will continue to do so,” he said.

The new services that will begin within the year are:

· Tehran – four-times weekly service starting on June 16, using A320 aircraft.

· Luxor – four-times weekly service starting June 22, using A320 aircraft.

· Istanbul – three-times weekly service starting June 30, using A320 aircraft.

· Zurich – four-times weekly service starting July 8, using A319 aircraft.

· Kabul – three-times weekly service starting November 11, using A320 aircraft.

· Osaka – four-times weekly service starting December 8, using A330-200 aircraft.

· Johannesburg – four-times weekly service starting January 15, using A330 aircraft.

· Islamabad – twice-weekly service that started March 31, using A320 aircraft.

“Qatar Airways has established itself as a carrier of business as well as leisure travellers, and as such our new destinations consist of some popular tourist spots, as well as cities that are attractive to all kinds of travellers,” said Mr Al Baker.

“Tehran will be our 50th destination, and will start from June 16. Flying to Tehran has been on our agenda for a long time, and we are pleased that we are now opening this service.

“Qatar Airways has recently signed an agreement that allows us to commence flights to Osaka in Japan, and we are very pleased to announce this first destination to the Land of the Rising Sun.

“Japan is a country full of culture, history, innovation and advancement and we are extremely pleased to be able to offer our passengers a service to this interesting country,“ said Mr Al Baker.

[oryxbollocks]

Don't forget Melbourne, Perth, New York and Washington. Anybody got any spare pilots?

[MD11Flyer]

These sound like some promising routes, especially Zurich, Johannesburg and Osaka.

[Bangkok Layover]

Not only "Auto Pilot", AAB will also need Air crafts with "Auto Cabin crew" to fly his dreams!

[MD11Flyer]

Wow, Qatar sounds real horrible you guys. I only hope Akbar is aware of how displeased his employees are. He might be heading for trouble!