newswatcher
7th Oct 2002, 08:06
From "The Peninsula", Qatar(7/10):
"The Doha International Airport will have four additional departure gates by the middle of next year as part of a major expansion effort, according to Akbar Al Baker, chief executive officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways. The new boarding gates will facilitate faster clearance of passengers as traffic is expected to grow considerably with Qatar Airways fast expanding its fleet and frequencies and other airlines showing interest in operating here.
Also, a major expansion project will be launched at the arrival section of the airport. Contract for the project is likely to be signed within two weeks. Aircraft parking facilities at the airport will also undergo expansion, said Akbar Al Baker. He said as Qatar is all set to withdraw its stakes from Gulf Air by December 1 this year, the country will sign new bilateral air services agreement with India and several other countries.
Discussions will be held with Oman and Bahrain to sign new agreements, he said, pointing that a deal was concluded recently with the UAE. After signing a fresh deal with India, Qatar will ask for operating additional flights to that country, said the CEO. He, however, did not identify new destinations the airline has plans to fly in India and briefly remarked: “We would like to fly to many points in India”.
He reiterated the airline’s plans to start flights to Hyderabad and Kochi. From November 21 this year, Qatar Airways will operate three flights a week to Hyderabad and thrice a week flights to Kochi from March 1 next year. Frequency to Mumbai is being increased to six flights a week and Sharjah is also being added to Qatar Airways’ fast expanding destination network by the end of this month, he said. By next year many more destinations will be added to the airline’s existing network worldwide. Akbar Al Baker was addressing the press before the start of Qatar Airways’ airport managers’ meeting at Hotel Marriott yesterday morning.
The meet was convened to discuss maintenance of the high quality of ground services such as check-in, excess baggage handling etc the airline provides. Some 35 airport managers from around the world turned up for the convention.
The airline also has plans to set up its own simulator centres for flying and safety and emergency procedures. “Qatar Airways has grown to a size that it can now afford facilities of its own,” the CEO remarked, stressing that the growth has been much more than envisaged. The airline has its own catering facilities in place since September 23 and the service is running very smoothly, he added. By end of next year the airline will have acquired six new aircraft, taking the fleet size to over 24."
"The Doha International Airport will have four additional departure gates by the middle of next year as part of a major expansion effort, according to Akbar Al Baker, chief executive officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways. The new boarding gates will facilitate faster clearance of passengers as traffic is expected to grow considerably with Qatar Airways fast expanding its fleet and frequencies and other airlines showing interest in operating here.
Also, a major expansion project will be launched at the arrival section of the airport. Contract for the project is likely to be signed within two weeks. Aircraft parking facilities at the airport will also undergo expansion, said Akbar Al Baker. He said as Qatar is all set to withdraw its stakes from Gulf Air by December 1 this year, the country will sign new bilateral air services agreement with India and several other countries.
Discussions will be held with Oman and Bahrain to sign new agreements, he said, pointing that a deal was concluded recently with the UAE. After signing a fresh deal with India, Qatar will ask for operating additional flights to that country, said the CEO. He, however, did not identify new destinations the airline has plans to fly in India and briefly remarked: “We would like to fly to many points in India”.
He reiterated the airline’s plans to start flights to Hyderabad and Kochi. From November 21 this year, Qatar Airways will operate three flights a week to Hyderabad and thrice a week flights to Kochi from March 1 next year. Frequency to Mumbai is being increased to six flights a week and Sharjah is also being added to Qatar Airways’ fast expanding destination network by the end of this month, he said. By next year many more destinations will be added to the airline’s existing network worldwide. Akbar Al Baker was addressing the press before the start of Qatar Airways’ airport managers’ meeting at Hotel Marriott yesterday morning.
The meet was convened to discuss maintenance of the high quality of ground services such as check-in, excess baggage handling etc the airline provides. Some 35 airport managers from around the world turned up for the convention.
The airline also has plans to set up its own simulator centres for flying and safety and emergency procedures. “Qatar Airways has grown to a size that it can now afford facilities of its own,” the CEO remarked, stressing that the growth has been much more than envisaged. The airline has its own catering facilities in place since September 23 and the service is running very smoothly, he added. By end of next year the airline will have acquired six new aircraft, taking the fleet size to over 24."