Qatar bullish on 2013 business

Qatar Airways says 2013 is turning into an “exciting year for Qatar’s aviation industry” as the country prepares for the opening of the brand new Hamad International Airport.

The airline presented its plans and strategy at a press conference at ITB earlier this week.

The new airport, built at a cost of over US$15.5 billion, is set to open in phases, beginning 1 April with a select-few airlines moving from their current location at Doha International Airport.

Qatar Airways Group, which will manage and operate the new airport, will move to Hamad International towards the end of the year.

Speaking at a press conference at ITB Berlin, Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said the national airline was playing a pivotal role in the nation’s airport infrastructure developments.

Al Baker also said  Qatar Airways looked forward to becoming a full-fledged member of oneworld, the first major Gulf carrier to join a global airline alliance.

Earlier in the week the airline became a strategic partner with football giants FC Barcelona.

He said: “These are exciting times for Qatar Airways and the State of Qatar. The opening of Hamad International Airport, our new home, will be a formidable milestone in the country’s relatively short history in the aviation industry.

“We look forward to welcoming the first airlines next month followed soon after by cargo operations and freighter flights moving across to Hamad International Airport. Qatar Airways will move its entire operations to the new airport by the end of the year.”

Hamad International Airport will initially have a handling capacity of 28 million passengers a year, increasing to 50 million in its final phase of development beyond 2015. The current airport will remain open to passenger services until Qatar Airways moves its entire operations to the new facility.

Highlights of the new facility include over 40,000 sqm of retail space and passenger lounges, 41 contact gates, dedicated gates for the Airbus A380 superjumbo, a VVIP terminal, an iconic mosque, cargo complex and two runways, one being the longest in the world, and much more.

Launched just 16 years ago, Qatar Airways currently operates 121 aircraft to 125 destinations worldwide and will expand to 170 aircraft serving 170 destinations by 2020.

It already offers 35 flights each week between Doha and three cities – double daily to both Frankfurt and Munich, and daily to Berlin.

“Across the world, we are continuing our expansion with three new routes already launched this year to Najaf in Iraq, Gassim in Saudi Arabia and to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. We will be adding Chicago to our network next month, followed by Salalah in May and Chengdu in China later,” added Al Baker.

Qatar Airways will also launch services to Chicago (10 April); Salalah, Oman (22 May); Chengdu, China, at a date to be confirmed.

“By the end of the year, we expect to become full members of the oneworld airline alliance that will give us greater reach to many more cities around the world through our new partner airlines.”

The airline has orders worth over US$50 billion for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 aircraft.

Sourced: ttrweekly