International travel show in Dubai huge success for Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker hosted a press conference on the opening day of the four-day event, highlighting the airline's expansion plans by announcing new routes to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Clark International Airport (Philippines) and Philadelphia (USA).

In addition, the airline revealed a 60% frequency increase to Pakistan from 17 to 28 flights each week, effective June 1.

The Doha-based carrier exhibited its latest suite of amenity kits and its Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business and Economy Class seats, housed in a custom-designed double-storey exhibition stand.

The return of Qatar Airways' Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft into service was another highlight with the first of its five 787s redeployed on the Doha - Dubai route. Boeing 787 flights will resume on the London Heathrow, Munich, Frankfurt and Zurich routes over the next few weeks.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 124 aircraft to 126 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas.

Qatar Airways has so far launched four destinations this year - Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Chicago (USA).

Over the next few weeks and months, the network will grow further with Salalah, Oman (May 22), Basra and Sulaymaniyah (Iraq on June 3 and August 20 respectively), Chengdu, China (September 3) and the newly-announced routes of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (September 18), Clark International Airport, Philippines (October 28) and Philadelphia, USA (2 April 2014).