Qatar Airways increases Saudi services

Qatar Airways said yesterday it is increasing services between Doha and Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, with effect from February 22, 2009.

The airline will be adding five flights per week to the Dammam sector, bringing the total number of frequencies on this sector to 12 services a week. The early morning departures will offer passengers from Dammam convenient connections to the new mid-morning long haul service to Houston in Texas, which Qatar Airways is launching on March 30 this year.

Riyadh will be served with two additional flights a week, taking weekly capacity up to five services. Two extra flights will also be introduced between Doha and Jeddah, a route currently served with five flights each week, the Doha-based airline said.

It added that the additional routes to all three destinations Qatar Airways flies to Saudi Arabia will be operated with Airbus A320, A321 and 319 variants, in two-class configuration.

Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker, said: "There are very close ties between the Arab business community and energy companies in the Gulf with those in and around the Houston area."

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