Qatar Airways Announces Codeshare Agreement With United Airlines

NEW YORK, June 27 PRNewswire — Qatar Airways and United Airlines today announced they are filing a joint application with the US Department of Transportation seeking permission to place their codes on each other's flights.

Under the agreement, Qatar Airways will significantly expand its presence in the United States, a market it entered this week with scheduled flights from Doha to New York (Newark). Qatar Airways is set to launch daily non-stop scheduled services between Doha and Washington, D.C. on July 19.

Pending regulatory approval, Qatar Airways' QR flight code on selected services operated by United Airlines will give the Doha-based carrier access to a number of domestic cities across the United States from Washington, D.C., and on flights from key European gateways to the US.

As part of the agreement, Qatar Airways will apply its QR flight code on: — Flights operated by United Airlines from Washington, D.C. to more than 50 cities across the U.S. — Flights operated by United Airlines from London Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Rome and Munich to one or all of the following cities - Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

Speaking at a press conference in New York today, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: "Yesterday, Qatar Airways embarked on an historic journey to North America with our first flights to the United States. I am pleased to announce here in New York today that we are looking to expand our operation in America through this very important codeshare tie-up with United Airlines.

"United Airlines has an extensive reach across the US domestic market. Our passengers travelling from Doha, the Indian subcontinent, Asia and the Middle East will gain online access to an array of US cities via connecting flights operated by United Airlines through Washington, D.C. and Europe.

"For passengers it means seamless transfers between flights, baggage checked-through to their final destination and a host of other benefits."

Michael Whitaker, United's Senior Vice President of Alliances, International and Regulatory Affairs, said: "We are pleased to partner with Qatar Airways to offer our customers service to five new countries as well as expand our current service to the Middle East — one of the fastest growing business regions in the world.

"United is giving our customers what they want - flights to more international destinations with easy connections and a convenient schedule."

Since November 2005, members of Qatar Airways' Privilege Club frequent flyer programme have been able to earn and redeem Qmiles on flights operated by United Airlines. Both carriers have also enjoyed a strategic cargo partnership through which the airlines have carried more than 600,000 kilos (1.3 million pounds) of general freight and in excess of two million kilos (4 million pounds) of mail since its inception in early 2006.

Qatar Airways, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, currently operates a modern fleet of 58 all-Airbus aircraft to 77 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Far East, Indian subcontinent and America.

The launch of the US flights is the highlight of Qatar Airways' route expansion programme during 2007, which has already seen Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Chennai, Geneva and New York added to the carrier's burgeoning network. On November 30, the carrier launches services to the Swedish capital, Stockholm.