Qatar Airways launches new route to Philippines

MANILA – Qatar Airways celebrated the launch of non-stop daily flights to Clark Manila International Airport in the Philippines.

Flight QR930 touched down at Clark International Airport at 09:20 local time to a traditional water salute welcome. A ceremony followed which was attended by airport and government officials including the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Philippines, His Excellency Jassim A. Al Obaidli, together with members of the local business community, travel trade and media.

“Qatar Airways has reached yet another key milestone in the Philippines, with the launch of additional daily flights to this fast-growing country,” said Yew Seong on arrival at Clark International Airport. “With our new offering, business and leisure travellers to the Luzon area have great connections via Doha from many popular destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat, Dammam, Riyadh, Montreal, New York, London and Paris.”

The Clark Airport route is operated with an Airbus A330 in a two-class configuration of up to 248 seats in Economy and up to 36 in Business Class. The aircraft features seatback TV screens providing all passengers in both cabins with the next generation interactive onboard entertainment system- a choice of more than 900 audio and video on demand options.

Clark International Airport is located about 96km from Manila City Centre and a complimentary bus service will be available to take passengers to and from Trinoma Mall and Resorts World Manila (conveniently located opposite of MNL International Airport T3).

As an inaugural offer, passengers are also entitled to exceptional baggage allowance of up to 40 kgs valid for travel until 31 January 2014. Members of Qatar Airways’ frequent flyer programme Privilege Club can earn up to 7,000 bonus Qmiles in Economy Class and 14,000 bonus Qmiles in Business Class for travel on a return trip between 27 October and 31 December 2013.

Flight schedules, between Clark International Airport and Doha, are as follows:

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
Depart Doha - QR930 at 1945 hrs, arrive Clark Airport 0920 hrs next day

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Depart Clark Airport - QR931 at 1050 hrs, arrive Doha 1550 hrs

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Depart Doha - QR930 at 2100 hrs, arrive Clark Airport 1035 hrs next day

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Depart Clark Airport - QR931 at 1205 hrs, arrive Doha 1705 hrs

Clark Airport, which is poised to become a new tourism and commercial hub, becomes Qatar Airways’ newest gateway to the Philippines after the capital Manila, further reinforcing the carrier’s commitment to the country.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the new Clark Airport flights offers more daily flight options for passengers and would meet the strong demand for business, leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel between Qatar and the Philippines.

“Qatar Airways is now well positioned to offer travellers from the Middle East, Europe and USA the convenience of an additional daily flight to the Philippines via the airline’s Doha hub.”

“More frequencies combined with an award-winning inflight experience, access to over 130 destinations worldwide, and seamless connections in Doha brings our passengers from the Philippines a winning proposition,” added Al Baker.

The destination becomes Qatar Airways’ 12th gateway in Southeast Asia after Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, Hanoi, Singapore, Manila, Yangon and Phuket – and the carrier’s 133rd destination worldwide.

Together with Qatar Airways’ destinations across South Asia, the entire Asian region represents around 30 per cent of the airline’s global network of routes.

Qatar Airways started operations to Manila in 1995, currently flying two daily flights to the capital city. Along with Clark, the airline is now offering a convenient option of three-daily-flights to the Philippines.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 127 aircraft to 133 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas.

In 2013, Qatar Airways has launched 11 destinations to date – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman), Basra (Iraq), Sulaymaniyah (Iraq), Chengdu (China), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Ta’if (Saudi Arabia) and Clark Manila International Airport (Philippines).

Over the next few months, the network will grow further with Sharjah, UAE (March 1, 2014), Dubai World Central, UAE (March 1, 2014), Philadelphia, USA (April 2, 2014) and Miami, USA (10 June 2014).

Sourced: TravelDailyNews