Qatar Airways announces a route network of 70 destinations within two years

Qatar Airways is to add another 20 new destinations to its growing route network by 2005, to fly to 70 destinations across five continents.

Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer Mr Akbar Al Baker announced today at the Arabian Travel Market that the newly crowned five-star airline will be servicing 70 destinations across five continents - including the United States - by the end of 2005, Mr Al Baker also announced new services to Osaka, Tehran, and Johannesburg.

These new destinations are in addition to the previously announced destinations of Luxor, Istanbul, Zurich, Kabul which Qatar Airways will launch during the next six months. The airline has already begun services to Islamabad.

Today's announcement comes hot-on-the-heels of Qatar Airways' entry into the exclusive club of three airlines that have been awarded Five Star status by the independent airline quality monitor Skytrax.

"Qatar Airways will build a route network of 70 destinations as part of its strong service philosophy to deliver the best quality airline service in the world," said Mr Al Baker.

The new services that will begin within the year are:

· Tehran - four-times weekly service starting on June 16, using A320 aircraft.

· Luxor - four-times weekly service starting June 22, using A320 aircraft.

· Istanbul - three-times weekly service starting June 30, using A320 aircraft.

· Zurich - four-times weekly service starting July 8, using A319 aircraft.

· Kabul - three-times weekly service starting November 11, using A320 aircraft.

· Osaka - four-times weekly service starting December 8, using A330-200 aircraft.

· Johannesburg - four-times weekly service starting January 15, using A330 aircraft.

· Islamabad - twice-weekly service that started March 31, using A320 aircraft.