GUANGZHOU, China, 3 May 2008 - Qatar Airways opened its new reservations and ticketing offices in the heart of the business districts of Chinese cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai recently. The Doha-based carrier with a five star ranking for service and excellence also marked the occasion by introducing its service to Guangzhou.
Speaking of the airline's successes in China, its Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker referred to its ambitious growth plans and highlighted further expansion into long-haul markets over the next few years in an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the international media visit to celebrate the introduction of services to Guangzhou.
He cited the newly launched Doha-Guangzhou route as an example of the airline's commitment to introduce flights to key cities in countries with thriving economies.
Guangzhou is Doha-based Qatar Airways' fourth destination in China and 82nd overall worldwide.
The airline now operates a total of 20 scheduled flights a week to China from its hub to Beijing (4 flights), Shanghai (5 flights), Hong Kong (daily) and Guangzhou (4 flights). Beginning Thursday, the carrier added a fifth frequency to Guangzhou - Qatar Airways' 15th destination in the Far East.
"The airline is determined to open up further services as part of an aggressive expansion plan to serve exciting business and leisure cities around the world," Al Baker added.
Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 62 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to 82 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Far East and North America. Starting November 10, Qatar Airways will launch direct non-stop services to Houston, its third destination in the United States.
Al Baker termed the airline's expansion into China as a measure of continued support for one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
"Our new route builds on the success of Qatar Airways' operations across China in such a short few years since we launched flights to this dynamic economic landscape in 2003," he said.
"We have steadily built up our business in China, first with Shanghai, then Beijing and Hong Kong and am now pleased to see our service expand to yet another key city. Guangzhou offers both business and leisure travelers an alternative gateway to this fascinating country," he said.
The Doha-Guangzhou route provides a strong sporting link as Doha hosted the biggest ever Asian Games in 2006, while Guangzhou is set to host the next Asian Games in 2010.
With outstanding orders for more than 200 new aircraft worth over $30 billion, Al Baker said deliveries over the next few years would be the catalyst to open up new routes worldwide.
"With our ideal central geographical position in the Gulf, we will soon be able to operate flights to any key city around the world non-stop, thanks to the arrival of the long range version of our Boeing 777 aircraft later this year," said Al Baker, who later officially opened the airline's new sales and reservations office in the heart of Guangzhou's business district.
"The Boeing 777-200LR is capable of flying distances of around 17 hours non-stop and gives Qatar Airways' passengers a unique flying experience. We will open up exciting new diverse business and leisure routes worldwide with this fabulous aircraft, including Houston," Al Baker said.
Qatar Airways has ordered 32 Boeing 777 aircraft - a mix of the Long Range and Extended Range versions - together with other aircraft types, including 60 Boeing 787s, 80 Airbus A350s and five Airbus A380 super jumbos.
About the New Doha International Airport, which will help facilitate Qatar Airways' huge expansion, Al Baker said, reclamation work on the project has been completed as 60 percent of the site is built on land dredged from the sea. Both runways are taking shape and terminal infrastructure is well under construction. The airport is due to open in 2010 with an initial capacity of 24 million passengers a year, rising to 50 million during the final development phase from 2015 onwards.
Al Baker also spoke of Qatar Airways' commitment to a cleaner and safer environment, stressing the airline was spearheading a top-level international study looking at Gas-To-Liquids fuel (GTL) to power passenger jets.