The FINANCIAL — Qatar Airways is expanding operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by increasing frequency between Doha and Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, from February 22.
On the Dammam route, five flights per week will be added to the current daily schedule, bringing the total frequency on the route to 12 services each week. The new early morning departures from Dammam on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays will offer passengers excellent connections to the new mid-morning long-haul service to Houston in Texas, which Qatar Airways is launching on 30 March.
According to Qatar Airways, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Riyadh will be served with two additional flights a week, taking weekly capacity up to five services.
Two extra flights will also be introduced between Doha and Jeddah, a route currently served with five flights each week. The daily service will enhance the convenience for passengers travelling on this route.
The massive increase in frequency will provide business and leisure travellers to and from Saudi Arabia with more flexibility and greater choice to connect onto Qatar Airways’ extensive network covering North America, Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Far East.
The additional routes to all three destinations Qatar Airways flies to in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be operated with Airbus A320, A321 and 319 variants, in two-class configuration.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said he was delighted to see yet another capacity hike, which will facilitate closer ties between Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – an important key feeder market for our upcoming new service to Houston.”
He added: “Houston is a very strategic route for Qatar Airways, as it opens up increased bilateral business opportunities for the energy sectors across the Middle East and the oil-producing southern states of America. Saudi Arabia’s rich financial and energy base gives Qatar Airways further reason to launch the route and establish this key international air corridor. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, known worldwide as an energy superpower, is the world’s leading petroleum exporter with oil accounting for over 90 per cent of the country’s exports.
“Furthermore, there exist very close ties between the Arab business community and energy companies in the Gulf with those in and around the Houston area. More than 65,000 Arabs currently live in and around Houston.”
Qatar Airways launches daily non-stop flights between Doha and Houston on March 30, using Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft featuring 259 seats of unrivalled levels of space and comfort, including fully flat beds in Business Class.
Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 will be configured in a two-class configuration of 42 seats in Business Class. Passengers will be able to enjoy comfortable and spacious seats offering a pitch of up to 78 inches with each seat converting into 180-degree fully flat beds. With a 2–2–2 seating configuration, Business Class passengers are assured of either a window or aisle seat and plenty of space.
In Economy Class, seat space is above the industry average with a pitch of up to 34 inches offering significant leg room. The 217 seats in a 3–3–3 configuration are the most spacious of any airline flying to Houston.
Qatar Airways was recently recognised as the world’s Leading Business Class airline at the World Travel Awards, adding to its burgeoning award-winning cabinet.
With a modern fleet of 66 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, Qatar Airways flies to 83 key business and leisure cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East and North America.
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