Qatar Airways ramps up U.S. presence, adds 3 new routes
Qatar Airways announced three new routes to the U.S., saying Monday it would begin flying to Atlanta, Boston and Los Angeles in 2016. The Doha-based carrier also said it would ramp up its service to New York, adding a second daily flight on its brand-new Airbus A350 jets.
With the new routes, Qatar Airways says it will now fly from its Doha hub to all 10 of the largest U.S. metro areas. The airline's other U.S. destinations are: Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Miami, New York JFK, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles.
Of course, the new routes come amid a widening trade spat focused on the three big "Gulf carriers." In that dispute, the three biggest U.S. airlines – American, Delta and United – contend Qatar Airways – as well as Emirates and Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates – receive unfair government subsidies. The CEOs of all three state-owned carriers have vigorously denied the allegations.
As for Qatar Airways' new routes, the details of the new service are as follows.
- Los Angeles: Daily service will begin Jan. 1, with Qatar Airways using Boeing 777 aircraft.
- Boston: Daily service will begin March 16. Qatar Airways will use its new Airbus A350 on the route. Qatar Airways became the first airline in the world to put the jet into service in January.
- Atlanta: Daily service will begin July 1, with Qatar Airways using Boeing 777 aircraft. It's also worth noting that Atlanta is home to the headquarters and biggest hub of Delta, which seems to have taken the most-vocal role in denouncing the Gulf carriers. Qatar Air becomes the first of the three big Gulf carriers to begin flying to the airport, the world's busiest.
- New York JFK: Qatar Airways has served the city since 2007, currently offering daily service on Boeing 777 aircraft. Beginning March 1, Qatar Airways will begin flying a second daily round-trip flight on Airbus A350 jets.
"As Qatar Airways continues its global expansion, we are delighted to be offering even more gateways in the United States, connecting passengers from destinations across the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Southeast Asia," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker says in a statement.
Still, news of the new routes will likely not sit well with those calling for the U.S. government to freeze the Gulf carriers' access to U.S. markets while the feds review existing "Open Skies" pacts between the U.S. and both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
A lobbying group pressuring the U.S. to restrict the pacts was quick to put out a statement following Qatar Airways' announcement.
"This is yet another example of the Gulf carriers racing against the clock to dump more subsidized capacity on the U.S. and diverting passengers away from the U.S. airlines," Jill Zuckman, spokesperson for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies lobbying group, said in the statement. "The harm from these actions is real and immediate and it is why we need the U.S. government to quickly freeze additional flights by the Gulf carriers and to request consultations with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar."
The U.S. Departments of Transportation, Commerce and State announced April 10 they would review the allegations, but they have not yet asked for formal consultations with UAE and Qatar.
"We do not believe in this country to opening our doors to any business where the government is the source of competitive advantage," Will Ris, senior vice president for government affairs at American Airlines, told a CAPA – Centre for Aviation conference last week in Las Vegas.
But Gulf carriers have denied getting subsidies and accused the U.S. carriers of trying to thwart competition.
"They will do anything to block that competition," Jim Callaghan, general counsel at Etihad Airways, said at the same event.
Contributing: Bart Jansen
