Qatar Airways has expanded its codeshare agreements with fellow Oneworld partners, Cathay Pacific (CX) and Japan Airlines (JAL).
The Gulf carrier and Cathay Pacific first began codesharing last April, shortly after CX began flying to Doha on March 30. This complemented Qatar’s own existing route frequencies to Hong Kong.
The expanded agreement will now see the two airlines codeshare on routes between Doha–Muscat and Doha–Sao Paulo, thus enhancing connectivity for passengers travelling onwards to Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Japan.
In addition, Qatar Airways has announced 24 new domestic codeshare routes with JAL. The flights will be operated solely out of Tokyo Haneda, though the Gulf carrier does also serve flights to Osaka and Tokyo Narita.
The new codeshare destinations are Tokyo Haneda to Kagoshima, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Kita Kyushu, Okayama, Nagasaki, Matsuyama, Komatsu, Takamatsu, Oita, Hakodate, Kochi, Tokushima, Akita, Miyazaki, Ube, Izumo, Aomori, Asahikawa, Obihiro, Amami O Shima, Memambetsu, Kushiro and Misawa.
Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Becoming a member of Oneworld in October 2013 was a significant landmark in Qatar Airways relatively young history, enabling us to strengthen our competitive offering. The joining of this alliance, and the addition of these new code shares, enables our passengers to avail of additional travel options, with ease, across routes that encompass the entire globe.”
In other news, Qatar Airways will also be boosting the number of flights it makes to Jakarta and Denpasar (Bali) from July 5 and 16 respectively. According to the airline, the frequency upgrade is due to increasing demand on these two routes.
There will be three additional flights to the Indonesian capital per week, which will raise the total frequency to 21 – effectively making this a thrice-daily service.
Doha–Jakarta additional flights
Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays
Departure in Doha QR958 at 1315, arriving in Jakarta at 0230 (next day)
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Departure from Jakarta QR959 at 0430, arriving in Doha at 0855
Meanwhile, the Gulf carrier will commence a double-daily operation to Denpasar. The perennial tourist favourite is currently served daily by Qatar Airways with flights QR962/963 but this will be expanded this July.
Doha–Denpasar (Bali) additional daily flight
Departure in Doha QR960 at 0800, arriving in Denpasar at 2245
Departure from Denpasar QR961 0020, arriving in Doha at 0430
For more information, visit qatarairways.com
Clement Huang
