Doha: Qatar Airways said yesterday two new exciting Mediterranean destinations will join its ever-expanding network in the first half of 2020, with many more to be announced in the coming months. The airline will also add 66 weekly frequencies to 20 existing destinations in its network due to strong market demand and the recent deliveries of more fuel-efficient aircraft.
The airline will be the first Gulf carrier to begin direct flights to Santorini, its fourth destination in Greece after Athens, Mykonos and Thessaloniki, with services to begin on 20 May 2020. Flights to Dubrovnik, Croatia, the airline’s second destination in Croatia after Zagreb will start on April 20, 2020.
Yesterday’s announcements follow just one day after the inaugural service to Gaborone, Botswana that marked the ninth new destination launched by the airline in 2019. The airline also reconfirmed Osaka, Japan, will join the airline’s network in 2020, with the inaugural flight departing on April 6.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are pleased to announce Santorini, Greece and Dubrovnik, Croatia will be joining our global network in 2020. We are committed to offering our passengers as many seamless one-stop connection choices as possible. With the addition of these new routes, our network will expand to 170 passenger destinations, further consolidating our position as one of the world’s most connected airlines.
“We also invite all passengers to enjoy the extra capacity and flexibility provided by the 66 additional weekly frequencies we are adding to 20 existing destinations in our network.
We are dedicated to giving our customers more options and flexibility when planning their business and leisure trips. These new flights are being added in response to market demand and are testament to our hard working team at Qatar Airways who continue to set the benchmark in the industry from customer service to catering and in-flight entertainment.”
The seasonal flights to Santorini, Greece and Dubrovnik, Croatia will be operated by an Airbus A320, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class.
Frequency to Adana, Bodrum and Antalya in Turkey will increase from three to five weekly flights; frequency to Athens, Greece will increase from three to four daily flights; frequency to Belgrade, Serbia will increase from seven to 10 weekly flights and frequency to Edinburgh, Scotland will increase from 10 to 14 weekly flights.
Frequency to Oslo, Norway will increase from 10 to 14 weekly flights; Venice, Italy will increase from seven to 11 weekly flights; frequency to Warsaw, Poland will increase from 14 to 18 weekly flights; frequency to Zurich, Switzerland will increase from 14 to 18 weekly flights; frequency to Maputo, Mozambique will increase from three to five weekly flights while frequency to Windhoek, Namibia will increase from five to seven weekly flights.
Three of the seven weekly flights to Kigali, Rwanda to be delinked from Entebbe, Uganda and operate direct non-stop flights to each destination amd Daily service to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania will be delinked with non-stop direct daily flights to each destination.
Frequency to Colombo, Sri Lanka will increase from four to five daily flights; Frequency to Dhaka, Bangladesh will increase from three to four daily flight while frequency to Penang and Langkawi, Malaysia combined service will increase from five to seven weekly flights.
