Aleppo, SYRIA – Award-winning Qatar Airways today began operations to the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, marking the carrier’s historic 100th destination. Flight QR430 arrived from Doha to the key economic gateway city to a water salute and airport ceremony.
On board the maiden flight to Aleppo was Qatar Airways’ Senior Vice President Commercial Ali Al Rais, who led a delegation, including Mr. Bashar Samara, Charge D’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Doha. They were met by senior airport officials and local dignitaries, including the Governor of Aleppo, Ali Ahmad Mansoura.
Addressing guests on arrival at Aleppo International Airport, Al Rais said: “We are celebrating this momentous occasion for the airline, and we are pleased to share it here with the people of Aleppo.
“Aleppo is an attractive tourist and business destination, and is an economic driving force behind Syria’s textile, manufacturing and trading industries. The city is also a destination that has long been on Qatar Airways’ list of under-served markets, where we have wanted to expand to. We are grateful to the authorities for their support in welcoming our expansion in Syria.”
Today, Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of 97 aircraft to 100 diverse cities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, South Asia and North and South America.
Qatar Airways has been voted third best airline in the world following the annual 2010 Skytrax survey of 18 million international passengers. In the survey, the airline was also voted as having the Best Business Class Service and Catering in the World, as well as being honoured as the Best Airline in The Middle East for the fifth consecutive year.
Qatar Airways has orders for 80 Airbus A350s, 60 Boeing 787s and 32 Boeing 777s, with deliveries of the latter having started in November 2007. The airline is one of the customers of the twin-deck Airbus A380 ‘super jumbos’ with five on order and scheduled for delivery from 2012, by which time the New Doha International Airport would have opened. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com
Qatar Airways Corporate Communications
Tel: +974 44496956, Fax: +974 44620132
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa