Luxor - Qatar Airways launched its maiden non-stop flight from Doha to Luxor last week, marking Qatar Airways’ 51st destination, and second service to Egypt, after Cairo.
A delegation of Qatar Airways officials led by Senior Manager Commercial Operations – West, Mr Fathi Al Shehab and Regional Manager Levant Mr. Hilal Al Mohannadi was welcomed by senior airport officials and the media at Luxor International Airport.
Mr. Fathi Al Shehab expressed his delight in arriving on the flight to Luxor: “It gives me great pleasure to officially inaugurate this Qatar Airways flight to Luxor. It is our 51st worldwide destination and our second destination in Egypt.
“Luxor has been one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations since the onset of leisure travel. Qatar Airways can now connect travellers from 50 worldwide destinations to this beautiful and historic place.
“The people of Qatar and the Middle East region have always had a keen interest in visiting the sights in Egypt, and Luxor is ideally placed to see the sights of the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, and connect with cruises on the Nile.
“The resorts of the Red Sea are close by, and many people choose to visit Luxor, followed by a stay at the beach. As more and more people choose to fly with Qatar Airways, we are now in a position to fly them to the wonders of Luxor four times per week.
“Together with our daily services to Cairo, we have now eleven weekly services between Egypt and Qatar. We will be flying between Doha and Luxor each Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, “Mr. Shehab said.
Qatar Airways is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, and has one of the youngest fleets in the skies. The international airline, which is Qatar’s national flag carrier, flies to 51 worldwide destinations, and will be reaching 70 destinations on all five continents, by the end of the year 2005.
Having increased its fleet from only four aircraft seven years ago, the airline now boasts a fleet of 32 aircraft and is taking delivery of thirteen aircraft throughout this year. An investment of some US$ 8 billion will bring the fleet up to 52 aircraft with the next five years.
Qatar Airways has recently won the honour of being awarded the prestigious five-star ranking by independent airline quality monitor Skytrax, being one of only three airlines worldwide to have been awarded the privilege.
Qatar Airways flies to Luxor every Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. Flight QR518 leaves Doha International Airport at 12.00hrs, arriving in Luxor at 15.20hrs local time.
Return flight QR519 departs Luxor at 16.20hrs, arriving in Doha, Qatar at 19.30hrs local time.
Doha-based Qatar Airways will operate a fleet of 110 aircraft by 2013 – almost double the existing size. Qatar Airways has ordered 80 Airbus A350s, 60 Boeing 787s and 32 Boeing 777s, with deliveries of the latter having started in November 2007. The airline is a launch customer of the twin-deck Airbus A380 ‘super jumbos’ with five aircraft on order and scheduled for delivery from 2010. Qatar Airways moves to the New Doha International Airport in 2010, when the first phase of the new facility opens. For more information, visit www.ndiaproject.com
Qatar Airways is one of only six airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways’ cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the fifth year running in 2007 following a survey of more than 15 million passengers worldwide. For more information, log onto www.qatarairways.com
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