Qatar Airways service to Atlanta from June 1

Doha: Qatar Airways (QA) yesterday hosted a capacity-crowd press conference in Atlanta to discuss its new service, which starts on June 1.Atlanta is the 10th destination the airline serves in the US, connecting to QA’s home at Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha to more than 150 destinations worldwide. The route between Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) and 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 superjumbo for one day on June 1.

QA’s third new destination in the US this year, Atlanta follows the start of services to Los Angeles (January 1) and Boston (March 16).

Since 2007, with the airline’s first route to the US – New York – services have grown, with America having an ever-increasing importance for QA’s customers. More than 5,000 seats are flown each day between Qatar and the US, 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 to the State of Georgia, positively impacting business, conference and convention attendance, and family and friends visitor traffic.

Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, QA, addressed the press conference at the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead, joined by Gunter Saurwein, Vice-President for Americas, QA, and Lisa Markovic, Country Manager, US.

Al Baker spoke about the airline’s expansion strategy, including the third phase of the world’s newest greenfield airport, HIA.

In its second year of operations, HIA is ranked one of the world’s top 10 airports and best in the Middle East. It features art installations, sculptures, 18 lounges, children’s play zones and relaxation areas, among other amenities.

“With our expanding presence in the US, we look forward to welcoming new passengers from Atlanta and beyond to experience our product and the distinct hospitality of QA,” Al Baker said. “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, QA is a full service global carrier, operating a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft – with an average fleet age of five years. QA has been 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. It has received the vote of confidence from its worldwide passengers, serving more than 30 million annually. As part of QA’s corporate social responsibility programme, cabin crew visited an Atlanta school yesterday to support a summer reading initiative.