Qatar Airways arrives in Atlanta ahead of its start of service

ATLANTA, GA – Qatar Airways hosted a capacity-crowd press conference in Atlanta to discuss its new service, which will commence June 1, 2016.

ATLANTA, GA – Qatar Airways hosted a capacity-crowd press conference in Atlanta to discuss its new service, which will commence June 1, 2016. Atlanta is the tenth destination the airline serves in the United States, connecting to Qatar Airways’ home at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, and to more than 150 destinations world-wide.

The route between Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) and Hamad International Airport (HIA) will be operated daily nonstop with a Boeing 777, with the exception of the first flight โ€“ which will be deployed with an Airbus A380 superjumbo for one day only, on June 1.


Qatar Airways’ third new destination to the United States this year, Atlanta follows the start of services to Los Angeles (January 1) and Boston (March 16). Since 2007, with the airline’s first route to the USA โ€“ to New York โ€“ services have exponentially grown, with America having an ever-increasing importance for Qatar Airways’ customers. More than 5,000 seats are flown each day between Qatar and the United States, spread across the airline’s gateways.

Atlanta is projected to be a key route for business and leisure traffic, conveniently connecting the Far East, Africa and the Middle East regions to the State of Georgia, positively impacting business, conference- and convention attendance, and family and friends visitor traffic.

Addressing media in Atlanta today at a press conference at the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead, the airline’s Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker was joined by the Vice President of the Americas, Gunter Saurwein and Country Manager of the USA, Lisa Markovic.

H.E. Mr. Al Baker spoke at length about the airline’s expansion strategy, including the third phase of the world’s newest greenfield airport, Hamad International Airport (HIA), the hub and home of Qatar Airways. Currently in its second year of operations, HIA is ranked one of the world’s top 10 airports and best in the Middle East. The airport features art installations, sculptures, 18 lounges, children’s play zones and relaxation areas, among other amenities.

“With our expanding presence in the United States, we look forward to welcoming new passengers from Atlanta and beyond to experience our product and the distinct hospitality of Qatar Airways,” said H.E. Mr. Al Baker said.

“We know passengers want more than just travel; they want an inflight experience that provides comfort, from the design of the seat to the quality of the cuisine, to the range of entertainment options available. These elements matter more now than ever before, as we witness the increasing trend of long haul and ultra-long haul travel.

Our network, much like our on-board product, is optimized for long journeys, offering customers fast and seamless transfers at our home airport, or the option to extend your time in Doha to experience the world’s finest airport. We want to go places together with our customers, to be part of their journey and contribute to a memorable experience.”

Flying to six continents with over 150 destinations on its routemap, Qatar Airways is a full service global carrier, operating a mixed fleet of all Boeing and Airbus aircraft โ€“ with an average fleet age of just five years.

Currently ranked as ‘Best Airline in the World’ for the third time by Skytrax, the aviation industry benchmark for passenger satisfaction, with over 18 million people voting annually. Qatar Airways has received the vote of confidence from its worldwide passengers, serving more than 30 million annually.

As part of Qatar Airways corporate social responsibility programme, Cabin Crew visited an Atlanta school yesterday to support a summer reading initiative. The airline is committed to furthering the awareness about travel and cultures, as part of its engagement program in each of the communities in which the airline serves.

Additionally, Qatar Airways is the official communications ambassador for the Education Above All foundation’s “Educate a Child” programme.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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