Qatar Airways expects that it will now start commercial services to Basra, Iraq on September 6, after coalition authorities delayed the introduction of commercial services to the southern Iraqi city on Tuesday, August 26, 2003.
"Initially we expected to begin services to Basra on August 30," said Qatar Airways' Regional Manager for the Gulf, Ali Al-Rais. "However coalition authorities have informed us today that all commercial services to Basra have been delayed while they make final preparations to receive commercial passengers at Basra International Airport.”
"When we begin flights to Basra, it will become Qatar Airways' 43rd destination. We will continue to add more and more new destinations to our network,” added Al-Rais. "On October 26th, we will begin flights to Seoul and Shanghai. And on November 9 we will start flights to Tripoli.”
Qatar Airways has launched an aggressive growth plan under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al-Baker, to ensure that it can offer a greater choice of destination, more flights, and the latest in-flight products and services.
As part of this expansion, Qatar Airways will extend its route network to 50 destinations by the end of 2003, and 60 by the end of 2004. It recently added Manchester, Rome and Moscow to its list of destinations. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
