Qatar Airways is participating at the high-profile Paris Air Show with a chalet at Le Bourget Airport in the French capital between 18 - 24 June 2007. More than 200,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the world’s largest and oldest aerospace trade show event, one of the most prestigious in the aviation industry calendar.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker will be leading a large delegation of airline officials from head office in Doha to the biennial show, now in its 47th year.

The airline will showcase its fine hospitality with a two-tier chalet draped in its burgundy corporate colours. And Qatar Airways’ brand new Airbus A330-200, newly delivered from Airbus’s factory in Toulouse, will be parked as a static display in front of the luxurious chalet. This new aircraft takes the airline’s fleet size up to 58 all-Airbus.

The A330 is one of the most spacious jets in the sky featuring Qatar Airways’ seat-cum-flat beds in First and Business Class. After the show, the aircraft will take-off from Le Bourget to Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, for entry into commercial service on medium- and long-haul routes served by the Five Star airline.

In Paris, Qatar Airways is the only airline among hundreds of exhibitors - comprising aircraft, engine, military jet and helicopter manufacturers - participating throughout the week.

Al Baker said he was delighted that Qatar Airways was once again taking part in the event, following the success of the airline’s participation at the show two years ago.

‘The Paris Air Show is regarded as one of the top aerospace industry events of the year and we are pleased to be able to use this opportunity to showcase our hospitality to visitors from around the world,’ he said.

‘We look forward to a highly productive week as it will be a perfect opportunity to network with existing business partners and build new relationships.

‘Business talks will take place just before our first entry into the US market, which will be the highlight of Qatar Airways’ route expansion during 2007.’

Qatar Airways currently operates scheduled flights from its Doha hub to 75 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and the Far East. The airline launches flights to Geneva on June 26, together with New York on the same date, followed three weeks later by daily services to Washington DC, beginning July 19.

Qatar Airways’ fleet size will double in size to more than 110 aircraft by 2015. It plans to acquire 80 Airbus A350s and 22 Boeing 777s, with deliveries of the latter beginning in November 2007.

The airline is one of the launch customers of the twin-deck A380 ‘super jumbos’ with four aircraft on order, scheduled for delivery from 2009, to coincide with the opening of the US$5.5billiion New Doha International Airport.

On the Paris - Doha route, the airline operates 11 flights a week offering passengers with attractive onward connections to holiday and business destinations such as Oman, India, Vietnam, the Maldives, China and Japan.

With a growing international network, Al Baker added that more travellers would have an opportunity to use Qatar Airways’ brand new Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, exclusively for departing First and Business Class passengers.

The Premium Terminal, which opened at the end of 2006, features facilities such as a spa, jacuzzi, duty free, business centre and fine dining restaurants. Built in just nine months, the US$90 million terminal is the world’s first commercial passenger building dedicated to First and Business Class passengers.
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