Qatar Airways has announced beginning a phased approach to expanding its network in line with passengers’ demand and expected relaxation of entry restrictions across the world. The airline aims to increase up to 52 destinations by the end of May 2020 and 80 destinations in June 2020.
Qatar Airways has plans to gradually reinstate suspended destinations and additional frequencies with a focus on key global destinations and partner hubs. The gradual expansion will focus initially on strengthening connections between the airline’s hub in Doha with the global hubs of its partner airlines around the world including London, Chicago, Dallas and Hong Kong along with reopening many major business and leisure destinations such as Madrid and Mumbai.
As we follow the indicators of the global travel market on a daily basis, we continue to focus on our mission – how we can enable mobility for our customers and provide them with seamless connectivity to their final destination. We have built a strong level of trust with passengers, governments, trade and airports as a reliable partner during this crisis and we intend to continue delivering on this mission as we gradually expand our network.”
Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways Group
Qatar Airways will take full advantage of its diverse and efficient fleet with the right aircraft size to ensure the best fit for expected demand on each planned route. While the expectation is that short haul travel will rebound first, business between large global cities will pick up more gradually and there will be a move towards visiting family and friends following months of lockdowns. By the end of June, the airline’s aim is to have 80 destinations in the schedule. This includes 23 in Europe, 04 in the Americas, 20 in Middle East and Africa and 33 in Asia-Pacific. Many of these cities will be served with a strong schedule with daily or more frequencies.
Throughout this crisis our passengers have been at the centre of our focus. Our airline has implemented industry-leading hygiene practices and commercial policies enabling our passengers to book and travel with confidence. We have maintained a flexible and agile network to help take over 1 million people home through our state-of-the-art hub in Doha and to transport more than 100,000 tonnes of essential medical and aid supplies to where they are needed.”
Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways Group
With travel restrictions constantly changing, accurately predicting the future of travel is challenging. Even though the global situation remains dynamic, the airline has made a number of assumptions based on its unique perspective, having been one of the few airlines operating globally in the recent months. Having maintained at least 30 destinations where possible during the ongoing global crisis, and flown more than a million people back to their home countries, the airline received widespread positive feedback from passengers, governments, trade and airport partners.
