Xiamen Airlines will launch daily flights between Beijing’s Daxing International airport and Doha’s Hamad International airport, the home of Qatar Airways, with its modern Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Oneworld member Qatar Airways will codeshare with SkyTeam member Xiamen Airlines on the latter’s China-Qatar flights.
This is the first time a Chinese airline will operate nonstop flights from China to Qatar.
The flights, which will commence on 20 October, arrive in Doha at 2245 and leave at 0200 providing passengers optimal connections to key markets in Qatar Airways’ global network beyond Doha, in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
In addition to the flights from Beijing, Xiamen Airlines will also launch two weekly flights from Xiamen to Doha.
The Xiamen flights will commence on 31 October and offer the same seamless connectivity to Qatar Airways’ network as the Beijing flights, arriving in Doha from Xiamen at 0500 and departing in the evening at 1930.
Qatar Airways will codeshare on these new flights, which it says will greatly enhance its presence in China, currently counting 31 weekly frequencies to six Chinese cities.
Qatar Airways also flies double daily to Hong Kong.
Xiamen Airlines was founded in 1984; it currently serves a network of 105 destinations in China and abroad.
The new direct flights from Beijing to Doha will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 that features a two-class configuration for 287 passengers, with 30 business class seats and 257 seats in economy class.
The Xiamen-Doha service, however, will be operated by a Boeing 787-8, which will accommodate 237 passengers across three classes – four in first class, 18 in business class and 215 in economy class.
“We are delighted to announce this comprehensive cooperation and to welcome our new partner, Xiamen Airlines, to Hamad International Airport, our home in Qatar.
Their flights are perfectly connected to our unparalleled global network offering customers of both airlines greater choice and seamless travel experiences,” said Qatar Airways group chief executive officer, Akbar Al Baker.
