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Qatar Airways plans to buy more A380 superjumbos to meet the growing needs of massive route expansion. One of the world's fastest growing carriers, Qatar Airways already has five on order.
Speaking to Mr. Ravisankar K.V., Editor, Tourism India Magazine at ATM Dubai, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways stated that the airlines had placed three orders to buy a total of 200 aircraft, the delivery of which are expected to be completed by 2017. These include five twin-deck A380s, 80 of Airbus' new-generation A350s, 60 Boeing's new 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 777s, amounting to a total cost of $30 billion. The new generation Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s will open up more opportunities, opening up medium and long-haul routes with greater operational efficiency.
Qatar Airways will take delivery of the first of its long range Boeing 777-200 aircraft and will operate it on the Doha-Houston route from November 10, 2008 with a non-stop flying time of 17 hrs. Mr. Al Baker also said that Qatar Airways’ young fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, which have an average age of three years, will rise to 70 by the end of 2008 and to 110 within the next five years.
Qatar Airways, with an international network of 82 destinations, is also looking at several new destinations in China, India and the US over the next few years. The airline already serves China in five cities with a weekly service of 21 flights and India with 58 flights to nine destinations. On November 10, 2008 Qatar Airways launches its third US destination with direct non-stop flights to Houston, initially with three services a week, rising to daily in December 2008.
Qatar Airways will also launch daily services between Doha and Kozhikode from June which will be the airlines’ ninth Indian destination. This will be the airline’s third gateway in Kerala, the other two being Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin.
Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways CEO told Mr. Ravisankar that the latest route announcement reinforced the airline’s commitment to expand its award-winning Five Star service across India.
“India today is by far the largest single market for Qatar Airways with a network of eight, and, soon nine cities will be served non-stop from Doha…”
“During 2007 alone Qatar Airways launched three new routes to India. Our new services to Kozhikode will only strengthen our position in this highly important market.”
Mr. Akbar Al Baker said that the large concentration of expatriates from Kerala living and working in the Gulf are from the Kozhikode region and together with tourists from Europe and other parts of the world, the launch of Qatar Airways’ third gateway in Kerala would prove highly successful.
“The addition of Kozhikode demonstrates our long-term commitment to India and we look forward to developing our network further across India as we explore new route opportunities to give the travelling public even more choice,” states Mr. Akbar Al Baker
The non-stop daily flights between Doha, Qatar’s capital and Kozhikode will be on an Airbus A320 aircraft.
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