Qatar Airways announced its plans to launch scheduled flights to a further two destinations in the Republic of Iraq from this summer. Flights to Basra are due to begin on 3 June with Sulaymaniyah starting on 20 August. Both destinations will be served four-times-a-week non-stop from the airline’s hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar. Qatar Airways began operations to Iraq last summer with flights to the capital Baghdad and Erbil, followed in January this year by new services to Najaf. The airline currently operates 12 flights a week across the three Iraqi cities. The new capacity will take frequency up to 20 weekly services across Iraq.
Qatar Airways is expanding its operations in Iraq in line with its strategy to enter underserved markets. Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways said, “With today’s announcement of flights starting to the cities of Basra and Sulaymaniyah this summer, Qatar Airways is offering new travel options to the people of Iraq and for those involved in the reconstruction efforts of the country. After years of restricted air access for foreign airlines in many parts of Iraq, Qatar Airways has been working with the authorities to open up services and are delighted to have expanded our operations there in such a short space of time, doing our bit in the country’s rebuilding efforts.”
Both routes will be operated with an Airbus A320 featuring 144 seats in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in Business Class and 132 in Economy. Over the next few weeks and months, Qatar Airways will launch scheduled flights to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Chicago, USA (April 10); Salalah, Oman (May 22); Chengdu, China, at a date to be confirmed, and many more start-ups to be announced.
