QATAR Airways is expanding its global network this winter with the addition of six routes from Doha.
Over the next three months, Beijing, Seychelles, London Gatwick, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Yangon will be added to the network, increasing Qatar Airways’ global reach from 53 to 59 destinations. The airline will fly to Beijing three times a week from November 25 and daily to London Gatwick from November 26. It will also operate four weekly services to the Seychelles, from December 1, to Yangon, from January 8, and to Johannesburg and to Cape Town from January 16.
By the end of next year, Qatar Airways will serve at least 70 destinations, including North America and Australia. Chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said the route expansion programme reinforced the carrier’s position as one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. “Qatar Airways is really spreading its reach to exciting new destinations to cater for growing demand from a diverse group of travellers,” said Al Baker.
He said the new routes would appeal to both business and leisure travellers and offer good connections to passengers travelling between continents via Doha. Beijing becomes Qatar Airways’ ninth destination in the Far East, after Shanghai, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Cebu, Manila, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. “Since the launch of our Shanghai flights last year, the route had proved very popular and it was only natural for us to extend our five-star service to business and leisure travellers by introducing Beijing as our second destination in China,” said Al Baker. The addition of London Gatwick would strengthen Qatar Airways’ UK operations where the airline already serves London Heathrow with double daily flights.