Qatar Airways heads for Australia
DUBAI – Qatar Airways has turned up the heat on rivals Emirates and Etihad airlines by confirming that it will launch daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Doha at the start of the northern summer schedules, subject to regulatory approval.
Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways, said the flights connecting Australia to Qatar were part of a major ongoing expansion strategy for the airline.
Al Baker said more aircraft orders to be announced at the Paris Air Show next month would further indicate the ambitions of the airline to be a global player and help to drive the commercial and economic future of Qatar.
The airline currently has a fleet of 64 aircraft with 200 on order – including 30 of Boeing’s delayed 787 Dreamliner – worth in total some US$40 billion.
“In 2009 while airlines are shrinking, parking airplanes, reducing frequencies and networks, we are doing exactly the opposite,†said Al Baker.
It was reported this week that Emirates would delay the delivery of some Boeing 777 aircraft next year to protect its cash reserves and give the airline more time to arrange financing.
Ian Jarrett
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