Qatar Airways expands Chinese operation with new route

Just a year after the launch of scheduled flights to Shanghai, Qatar Airways is adding its second gateway in China, one of the world's fastest developing economies.

From November 25, three return flights a week will operate non-stop between Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar, and Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China.

The route will be operated with a wide-body Airbus A330-200 in a two-class configuration - 12 Business and 226 Economy.

Beijing is China's political, economical, cultural and educational centre, as well as the country's most important centre for international trade and communications.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker said China was an economic powerhouse that would revolutionise global trade and industry in the years to come.

"Ever since the launch of our Shanghai flights last year, the route has proved very popular and it was only natural for us to extend our Five Star service to business and leisure travellers by introducing Beijing as our second destination in China," he said.

"Flying between the capitals of Doha and Beijing will also enhance cultural links between the two cities."

The route is also aimed at attracting passengers from feeder markets such as Europe and the rest of the Middle East and Africa via Doha.

Beijing becomes Qatar Airways' 9th destination in the Far East that already includes Shanghai, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Cebu, Manila, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

Beijing, which hosts the next Olympic Games in 2008, is home to the Forbidden City, the world's largest and best-preserved Imperial Palace complex featuring 9,999 rooms and surrounded by a moat six metres deep with a 10 metre high wall.

The city is home to many natural parks such as the Summer Palace, a classic imperial garden with breathtaking beauty. The parks also surround many of the city's ancient temples.

Beijing is also the gateway to the Great Wall of China, one of the eight wonders of the world that spans five provinces stretching 2,587 miles from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west, meandering its way across deserts, grasslands and mountains.

Qatar Airways will be flying to Beijing three times a week from November 25. Flight QR898 departs Doha at 2315 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, arriving in Beijing at 1215 local time the following day.

Return flight QR899 departs Beijing at 2330 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, arriving in Doha at 0410 local time the following morning.