(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
DOHA: Qatar Airways will be giving Emirates and Etihad Airways some competition in the near future, as it launches daily flight from Doha to Sydney and Melbourne from the beginning of the summer, subject to approval by regulators. The Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, said that the new flights linking Qatar and Australia were part of the carrier’s ongoing expansion strategy. According to him, additional aircraft orders will be announced at next month’s Paris Air Show, indicating the airline’s ambition to be a global carrier and its part in helping secure the economic and commercial future of the country.
Currently Qatar Airways has a fleet comprising 64 aircraft and another 200 on order, which includes 30 of Boeing’s delayed Dream liners — worth around $40bn combined. “In 2009 while airlines are shrinking, parking airplanes, reducing frequencies and networks, we are doing exactly the opposite,” Al Baker said. Earlier this week, Emirates reported it would delay the delivery of some of the 777s it was planning to acquire next year, in order to protect its cash reserves and allow it the time to secure suitable financing. Currently, Emirates airline operates 63 weekly flights to Australia, which it will increase to 70 in winter. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways flies 21 times a week to Australia while Qatar Airways new daily flight is a welcome development to all industry watchers and customers.
To keep up with the increasing interest from the region, Tourism Australia, visited and gave assurances of the Australian government’s willingness to progressively ease the application procedure for GCC nationals, creating online applications and making multi-entry visas standard. All visas issued to GCC nationals are multi-entry, given for a period of two years and are valid for stays up to three months at a time.
Asian Travel News and Guides