Qatar Airways unveils new routes

Qatar Airways, the second-biggest Arab carrier, will launch three new routes to Kigali, Perth and Zagreb as it looks to increase its share in the lucrative long-haul market, its CEO has said. The carrier, which has more than $50bn worth of aircraft on order, will launch its new route to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, on March 21, Zagreb on May 9 and Perth on July 3, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday. “In keeping with our highly focused and tailored growth strategy to enter underserved and thriving markets all over the world, the latest additions very much match our plans to open up a host of new destinations,” Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said. The announcement follows a day after the airline launched its premium lounge at London Heathrow as it looks to boost traffic between Doha and the UK capital. The new facility, located in Terminal 4, is the airline’s first of its kind outside of Doha, and part of its wider plans to step up passenger convenience on one of its busiest routes. Qatar Airways is among a trio of Gulf airlines expanding its route network as it looks to build up the region as a global hub. The airline, which has long competed with Etihad and Emirates, plans to roll up to 15 new routes this year, Al Baker told Arabian Business in November. “We are going to add three more new destinations within a few weeks into Iran so that we serve that very large market in a very strong way,” he said. “We are also planning to go to Perth, Zagreb, Belgrade, Kiev, Helsinki, St Petersburg and many other destinations within the next 12 months. Fifteen new destinations in the next 12 months.” The Doha-based carrier currently operates scheduled flights to 110 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. The airline in November placed a $6.5bn with France’s Airbus at the Dubai Airshow. The deal included 50 orders for A320neo worth $4.6bn, plus options for another 30.