Qatar Airways to add 7 new routes to its network

New Delhi, Nov 7: Qatar Airways today announced an expansion of its international network with the addition of seven new routes.

The airline will add seven cities from Europe, Africa, Asia and North America to its routes over the next 12 months.

It also confirmed it will take delivery of the first of 20 Boeing 777s next year to operate long haul routes from the carrier's Doha hub.

Qatar Airways will begin flying to the tropical island of Bali from March next year, supporting its existing Indonesian operation where the airline already serves the capital, Jakarta.

Vietnam is also on the horizon with Ho Chi Minh City is set to become yet another destination in Qatar Airways' Asian portfolio next March.

For the first time, a Qatar Airways aircraft will land in the United States with daily scheduled flights from Doha to New York, scheduled to begin in the summer of 2007.

In addition, Qatar Airways will fly to a new point in Northern Europe and, for the first time, in eastern Europe, in the second half of 2007. Details of the two new European destinations are being finalised, the company said in a statement.

The airline's fleet will more than double in size over the next 10 years to 110 aircraft. Qatar Airways plans to acquire 60 of the new generation Airbus A350s and 20 Boeing 777s worth a total 15.2 billion dollars.

UNI