Travel
Qatar Airways Arrives in Atlanta Ahead of its Start of Service
Airline Group Chief Executive holds press conference in Atlanta in advance of route launch. First flight to start 1 June between Atlanta and Doha, operated with an Airbus A380
Qatar Airways hosted a capacity-crowd press conference in Atlanta to discuss its new service, which will commence 1 June, 2016. Atlanta is the 10th destination the airline serves in the United States, connecting to Qatar Airways’ home at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, to more than 150 destinations worldwide.
The route between Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) and Hamad International Airport (HIA) will be operated daily non-stop with a Boeing 777, with the exception of the first flight – which will be deployed with an Airbus A380 super-jumbo for one day only, on 1 June.
Qatar Airways’ third new destination to the United States this year, Atlanta follows the start of services to Los Angeles (1 January) and Boston (16 March). Since 2007, with the airline’s first route to the USA – to New York – services have exponentially grown, with America having an ever-increasing importance for Qatar Airways’ customers. More than 5,000 seats are flown each day between Qatar and the United States, spread across the airline’s gateways.
Atlanta is expected to be a key route for business and leisure traffic, conveniently connecting the Far East, Africa and the Middle East regions to the State of Georgia, positively impacting business, conference and convention attendance, and family and friends visitor traffic.
Addressing media in Atlanta yesterday at a press conference at the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead, the airline’s Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker was joined by Qatar Airways Vice President of the Americas, Mr. Gunter Saurwein and Country Manager of the USA, Ms. Lisa Markovic.
H.E. Mr. Al Baker spoke at length about the airline’s expansion strategy, including the third phase of the world’s newest greenfield airport, Hamad International Airport, the hub and home of Qatar Airways. Currently in its second year of operations, HIA is ranked one of the world’s top 10 airports and best in the Middle East. The airport features art installations, sculptures, 18 lounges, children’s play zones and relaxation areas, among other amenities.
“With our expanding presence in the United States, we look forward to welcoming new passengers from Atlanta and beyond to experience our product and the distinct hospitality of Qatar Airways,” said H.E. Mr. Al Baker.
“We know passengers want more than just travel; they want an in-flight experience that provides comfort, from the design of the seat to the quality of the cuisine, to the range of entertainment options available. These elements matter more now than ever before, as we witness the increasing trend of long haul and ultra-long haul travel. Our network, much like our on-board product, is optimised for long journeys, offering customers fast and seamless transfers at our home airport, or the option to extend your time in Doha to experience the world’s finest airport. We want to go places together with our customers, to be part of their journey and contribute to a memorable experience.”
Flying to six continents with over 150 destinations on its route map, Qatar Airways is a full service global carrier, operating a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft – with an average fleet age of just five years.
Currently ranked as ‘Best Airline in the World’ for the third time by Skytrax, the aviation industry benchmark for passenger satisfaction, with over 18 million people voting annually. Qatar Airways has received the vote of confidence from its worldwide passengers, serving more than 30 million annually.
As part of Qatar Airways corporate social responsibility programme, cabin crew visited an Atlanta school yesterday to support a summer reading initiative. The airline is committed to furthering the awareness about travel and cultures, as part of its engagement programme in each of the communities in which the airline serves. Additionally, Qatar Airways is the official communications ambassador for the Education Above All Foundation’s “Educate a Child” programme.
About Qatar Airways:
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 184 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. Qatar Airways won Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East at the 2015 Skytrax Awards. This is the third time the airline won the accolade of Airline of the Year.
