Qatar Airways expands operations to Davao
Multiple award-winning airline Qatar Airways, has touched down for the first time in Davao City.
On Tuesday, 18 June 2019, the first flight from Doha to Davao was welcomed with a celebratory water cannon salute at the Davao International Airport. Qatar Airways flight QR936 departed Hamad International Airport (HIA) on Tuesday, 18 June 2019, at 02:45 am and landed in Davao at 5:20 pm local time.
In a statement released by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H.E. Akbar Al Baker said, “Qatar Airways is very proud to extend its reach into the Philippines by launching [our] third gateway into this beautiful country.”
Baker said the inclusion of Davao to their roster of destinations in the world signifies the opening and further strengthening of Davao’s inclusion into the Far East region’s global network.
The Qatar flag carrier’s inaugural flight to Davao was followed by a brief press conference where Qatar Airways Philippines Country Manager Rohan Seneviratne gave the media an in-depth look at the operations and achievements of Qatar Airways and the Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft used for the flight.
“Qatar Airways has been rated the world’s best airline for five times by Skytrax World Airline Rating Awards. If you must know, Skytrax is likened to the Oscars in terms of aircraft services”, he said.
Qatar Airways won in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Being the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance worldwide, Qatar Airways boasts of a state of the art fleet. At present, Seneviratne said, Qatar Airways operates more than 250 aircrafts via its hub at the Hamad International Airport. This, he added, is to more than 160 destinations in 6 continents worldwide.
“We are not stopping — we are adding more destinations to our routes”, Seneviratne added.
In addition to Davao, Qatar Airways also has serves Mombasa (Kenya), Izmir (Turkey) and Malta. By the second quarter of 2019, they are adding more — Lisbon (Portugal), Mogadishu (Somalia) and Langkawi (Malaysia).
Seneviratne also emphasized that the Philippines is one important air freight market for Qatar Airways citing that the Philippines is a growing popular destination for all Arab nations.
On the other hand, Seneviratne said that “Davao is the fastest growing economy in the Philippines and as such, we need to expand and explore our options”.
The carrier’s cargo arm offers (weekly) capacity of 350 tonnes (each way) on the Doha-Manila-Doha rote and 70 tonnes ont he Doha-Clark-Davao-Doha route. The Davao route took effect last 18 June 2019.
The Boeing B787 Dreamliner has 22 Business Class seats and 232 Economy Class seats.
Passengers will be able to enjoy the airline’s superior entertainment system, Oryx One, offering a wide variety of entertainment options.
The Flight Schedule:
Doha – Davao
Friday (QR936): Departs 02:45, Arrives 20.50
Davao-Doha
Friday (QR936): Departs 22:20, Arrives 03:15.
