Qatar Airways ramps up Aussie operations
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25 Nov 09 (TravMedia.com): Qatar Airways is busy preparing for its scheduled 6 December launch to Melbourne with a number of key initiatives nearing completion.
The airline has ramped up its recruitment programme, increasing its Australian headcount to 25, including 20 full-time staff in Melbourne. The company expects to boost its Australian staff complement by a further 25 to 30 per cent over the coming weeks leading up to commencement of its online operations.
Qatar Airways Melbourne has reconfigured its Collins Street office to include a ticket office featuring Arabesque decorations, while a permanent location for its Sydney offices has been secured as the airline readies for the launch of its first flights to Sydney, expected sometime in the early part of 2010.
Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Marwan Koleilat said the airline was on track in its preparations for the Melbourne and Sydney launches, which have received increasing interest since the airline’s travel trade seminars in Melbourne, held at the end of September.
“Australia is a key market for the continued growth of Qatar Airways, and we are excited with the response we have already received from both the trade as well as the public. Since our recent briefings to the travel trade on our Melbourne flights, we have had double-digit growth in forward bookings, with June to August 2010 looking particularly robust.
“Following the launch of introductory business class fares in September, the majority of enquiries were for business class tickets. With Melbourne going daily on 1st January 2010 and Sydney operations also commencing in the New Year, Qatar Airways will soon have firmly cemented its presence in Australia, and we are looking forward to serving the Australian public,” said Koleilat.
Australians will soon be able to experience a standard of travel not yet seen in this country. Qatar Airways was recently awarded the World’s Best Business Class accolade at the World Travel Awards held in London.
Earlier this year, Qatar Airways scooped several accolades at the annual Skytrax passenger survey awards, including Best Economy Class in the world. In addition, Qatar Airways’ overall global ranking is fourth best in the world - the highest placing of any Middle East carrier - and is in fact the only airline in the Middle East region to be certified as a five-star airline.
Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing carriers in the world with unprecedented expansion averaging almost 40 per cent year-on-year. It currently operates a modern fleet of 72 aircraft to 84 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East and North America. The airline has outstanding orders for more than 220 aircraft worth over US$40 billion.
The Melbourne – Doha flight schedules (all times local) are:
Depart Melbourne International Airport
From 6 December 2009
QR031 WED, FRI, SUN at 2355hrs, arrive Doha at 0625hrs following day
From 1 January 2010
QR031 DAILY at 2355hrs, arrive Doha at 0625hrs following day
Depart Doha International Airport
From 6 December 2009
QR030 WED, FRI, SUN at 0045hrs, arrive Melbourne at 2225hrs
From 1 January 2010
QR030 DAILY at 0045hrs, arrive Melbourne at 2225hrs
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