Qatar Airways has announced an increase in capacity on its Doha-Bahrain route with the addition of five flights a week, beginning June 1.The new early evening departures from the Bahraini capital Manama offer connections via Qatar Airways’ operational hub of Doha to cities across the airline’s global network covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, Far East, Indian subcontinent and North America.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker believes the extra capacity would be a great boost for the travelling public from the Gulf state to cities around the world.

“The addition of five new flights each week increases capacity between the two Gulf capitals from 42 to 47 flights a week and ensures the route only goes from strength to strength,” he said.

“We currently operate six flights a day between Manama and Doha and, with the new evening departures, Qatar Airways offers our customers greater choice and an excellent array of connecting destinations all over the world.

“Qatar Airways strongly believes in increasing frequency to as many destinations as possible to provide greater options for passengers. The Manama - Doha route is just one example and we look forward to stepping up capacity between the two cities even further in the future.”

Qatar Airways launched scheduled flights from Doha to Guangzhou at the end of March, with a total of 21 services a week now operating across four Chinese cities, which also cover Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Beginning June 15, Qatar Airways launches daily services between Doha and Kozhikode (formerly known as Calicut). Kozhikode will be the airline’s ninth Indian destination taking capacity across India to 58 weekly services.

And starting November 10, Qatar Airways launches its third US destination with direct non-stop flights to Houston, initially with three services a week, rising to daily in December 2008.

Added Al Baker: “These three exciting routes offer excellent connections to and from Bahrain and open up tremendous opportunities to a key market we have here.”

Qatar Airways has aggressive expansion planned for the next few years with orders for more than 200 aircraft worth over US$30 billion and the progress on the construction of the New Doha International Airport, which is due to open in 2010.

The next wave of aircraft deliveries to Qatar Airways’ 62-strong fleet starts this summer with the arrival of the airline’s third Boeing 777.

From November this year, Qatar Airways takes delivery of the first of its Long Range version Boeing 777-200 aircraft, capable of flying to virtually any key city in the world non-stop from Doha. The first Boeing 777-200 will be introduced on the Doha - Houston route from November 10 with a non-stop flying time of 17 hours.

With impressive outstanding orders, including 80 of Airbus’ new-generation A350s, five twin-deck A380s, 60 of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 777s, Qatar Airways’ fleet expansion will take it well into the next decade.
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