Qatar Airways to start direct flights to US

Kochi, Jun 14: Expanding its wings, Qatar Airways will introduce direct flights to Washington and New York in the US from Doha, which would virtually connect six Indian cities with the North American continent.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Airways Regional Manager Naveen Chawla said the New York flight, operational from June 26, and Washington service, from July 19, would boost the airlines' rapidly growing international network from its hub in Doha to beyond 75 destinations worldwide.

''The two services, four-times-a-week, can be availed by discerning Indian travellers from New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai to Doha,'' he added.

Mr Chawla said this year the airline had launched new services to Da-e-Salaam in Tanzania, Lagos in Nigeria, Bali in Indonesia and Ho-Chi-Minh City in Vietnam.

In India, the airways had increased the carrying capacity by 40 per cent and plans were afoot to start services from Ahmedabad and Nagpur.

''The airways operates a total of 42 flights from India to Qatar daily from six cities in the country,'' he added.

With a growing international network, more travellers had an opportunity to use Qatar Airway's brand WITH million dollar new Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, exclusively for first and business class passengers.

Mr Chawla said the new Doha International Airport would be opened by 2009.

UNI