Doha-based Qatar Airways inaugurated its new non-stop service to Chicago last week, using a B777-300 instead of the Dreamliner.
The B787 aircraft are still being grounded worldwide after a series of incidents that began in January (see here), after a number of flights by various airlines (see here). The lithium-ion batteries used onboard the aircraft, which have been identified as the source of the issues, are currently undergoing tests (see here). The B777 has 293 seats in economy and 42 in business class. The Dreamliner consists of 232 in economy and 22 in business (for a review click here), and has technologically advanced features.
The new route will initially be flown three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. From June 15, the frequency will be increased to daily.
The service brings the number of the airline’s North American destinations to five, including New York, Washington DC, Houston and Montreal. “Many travellers and businesses will benefit from additional access to and from the Middle East,” said Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways. He also added that the recently established codeshare partnership with the new American Airlines has enabled Qatar Airways with the capacity to connect more passengers with access through Chicago.
The Doha-Chicago service is part of the airline’s global expansion. The carrier will be launching flights to Salalah in Oman, Chengdu in China and the Iraqi cities of Basra and Sulaymaniyah. Meanwhile it is expected to join the oneworld alliance later this year, strengthening its network around the world.
For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com
Nino Lin
