Qatar Airways unveils expansion plans

Qatar Airways has announced its network expansion plans for the coming year, which will see new flight connections made available to travellers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

The airline's northern hemisphere winter schedule will include new flights from Doha to two European destinations yet to be finalised, as well as services to Goa and Amritsar in India and the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Summer operations in the northern hemisphere will see Qatar Airways launch flights to Houston from Doha, which at just under 17 hours will be one of the longest non-stop services in the world.

Speaking at the ITB Berlin travel show, Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of the airline, said that its "robust" expansion plans are not being deterred by the current economic climate.

He added: "Sydney and Melbourne have been on our radar screen for many years. We can finally look forward to entering the Australian market with vigour as we will have the aircraft to serve this highly popular market non-stop from Doha.

"India has been, and remains, one of our most important destinations and we are pleased to be strengthening economic and cultural ties with one of the world's fastest growing economies."

Qatar Airways will be based at a new international airport in Doha from 2012, from which it plans to operate a global network of flights to more than 100 destinations.

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