The addition of Tokyo marks the airline's 89th international destination and second in Japan. It also becomes the airline's fourth new route launched so far during 2010 in a year of continued aggressive expansion.
Over the past two months, the carrier has begun services to Bangalore in southern India, Copenhagen and Ankara, with flights set to start to Barcelona and the South American cities of Sao Paulo in Brazil and the Argentine capital Buenos Aires during June.
The launch of the new Tokyo flights comes ahead of Japan's Golden Week holiday season and sees Qatar Airways become the "only carrier from the Gulf" operating daily flights to the Japanese capital, providing convenient connections for passengers traveling on the airline's global network via its Doha hub.
"Tokyo has been a destination of choice for Qatar Airways for a very long time, and as the largest metropolitan area in the world, it represents an important feeder market into our growing international network," Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al-Baker said on the addition of Tokyo, following the thirteen and a half hour journey from Doha on April 27. "The Japanese are among the world's most traveled people and we are pleased that Qatar Airways can now extend its award-winning hospitality to the people of Tokyo and the surrounding area to our Doha hub and beyond."
Japanese Consul General Toshimitsu Ishigure welcomed Qatar Airways' gesture in adding Tokyo to its list of growing destinations. "The Japanese always look for comfort, safety and memorable trips while traveling, and the carrier's introduction of its flights to the second destination in Japan has been welcomed by the community who total 1,000 in the Kingdom, including 500 in Riyadh and the Eastern Province."
Abdul Rahman Al-Hussaini, chairman & CEO of Al-Hussaini & Al-Yahya Investment Group, said: "There is now no excuse for our businessmen not to travel to Tokyo for want of direct flights. You have them now and surely the business community will welcome it.
George Michael Shaw, community leader and managing director, Shared Services, at Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd., said: "The absence of direct flights to Tokyo was very much felt by the community and surely they are now welcome and will be patronized."
