With peace on the horizon:

Qatar Airways to increase flights to Lanka

Hiran H. SENEWIRATNE

Qatar Airways is optimistic of expanding local operations and increasing the frequency of its flights to Sri Lanka with the end of the war in the country, said its Regional Manager Rajeewa Jayaweera.

Rajeewa Jayaweera

With the global crisis, the airline’s main objective at present is to consolidate local operations in Sri Lanka. Therefore, we are happy to consolidate all operations, Jayaweera told Daily News Business. He said during the past few months a number of overseas travellers globally dropped significantly due to the global financial crisis especially in Europe and USA.

Qatar Airways is planning to deploy the next generation flights to their fleet shortly.

Jayaweera said that the airline is offering premium products with superior quality, which has now been positioned as one of the few five star airlines in the world. They have many concrete plans for Sri Lanka to consolidate and enhance operations in Sri Lanka. At present the airline flies to over 80 destinations. It also covers three long haul US destinations namely Washington, New York and Houston to be launched this month, Jayaweera said.

They also carry passengers from all over the world and hope to increase the number of flights shortly.

The company has ordered 80 next generation Airbus 350 and also Boeing 787 Dreamlined flights which are the highly advanced version.

Jayaweera said that they have no plans to bring the new generation flights to Sri Lanka and hope to expand and consolidate operations in the future

The Regional Manager also said they are now holding discussions with the Tourist Promotion Bureau to promote Sri Lanka as a major tourist destination.

With the dawn of peace in the country they could do better than earlier, he said.

Qatar’s new international airport in Doha which has 72 departure gates, is due to be commissioned in 2012, he said.