The Hindu Business Line : Qatar Airways eyes load from US-going Indian public

ON EXPANSION MODE: Mr Ali Al Rais (left), Senior Manager, Commercial Operations, Qatar Airways, and Mr Naveen Chawla, Area Manager, India, at a press conference in Chennai on Monday. — Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai March 26 Qatar Airways on Monday launched its daily service between Doha and Chennai — the airline's sixth Indian destination.

The flight from Doha will land at Chennai at 3.45 a.m. and will depart back to Doha at 4.45 a.m. The airline is putting into this route an A-321 aircraft, with a 12 business class and 165 economy class seat configuration.

Come June, the airline will begin its direct service between Doha and New York. A few months later, it will fly between Doha and Washington DC, non-stop. It also intends to introduce flights from Doha to Geneva and Stockholm this summer.

It believes that it gives Indian public travelling to the US a good choice of travel, via Doha. The economy fare between Chennai and Doha is priced at around Rs 21,000 excluding taxes. Between Chennai and New York the fare is Rs 36,560, plus taxes.

The transit time for US and European flights from Doha will be about two hours, officials of the airline said at a press conference here on Monday.

A unique selling proposition of the airline is the facilities it offers for first class and business class travellers at the New Doha airport free of cost, including a spa, bedrooms to relax and an exclusive terminal.

At the press conference, Mr Ali M Al Rais, General Manager-Commercial, Qatar Airways, said that the airline targeted business and leisure travellers to raise the loads from India.

Answering a question, Mr Al Rais said that Qatar Airways would directly talk to corporate clients for patronage.

He said that the airline would like to fly to more destinations in India and said that Nagpur could be the next.

Mr Al Rais said the airline was expanding its fleet, from 56 (all Airbus) to 110, by 2015. The company has contracted to buy four A380 — the new double-decker aircraft from Airbus.