Qatar Airways announces new seasonal flights to Santorini, Greece and Dubrovnik, Croatia in 2020

Qatar Airways reveals two new Mediterranean destinations will join its ever-expanding network in the first half of 2020, with many more to be announced in the coming months. The airline will also add 66 weekly frequencies to 20 existing destinations in its network due to strong market demand and the recent deliveries of more fuel-efficient aircraft.

The airline will be the first Gulf carrier to begin direct flights to Santorini, its fourth destination in Greece after Athens, Mykonos and Thessaloniki, with services to begin on 20 May 2020. Flights to Dubrovnik, Croatia, the airline’s second destination in Croatia after Zagreb will start on 20 April 2020.

Today’s announcements follow just one day after the inaugural service to Gaborone, Botswana that marked the ninth new destination launched by the airline in 2019. The airline also reconfirmed Osaka, Japan will join the airline’s network in 2020, with the inaugural flight departing on 6 April.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are pleased to announce Santorini, Greece and Dubrovnik, Croatia will be joining our global network in 2020. We are committed to offering our passengers as many seamless one-stop connection choices as possible. With the addition of these new routes, our network will expand to 170 passenger destinations, further consolidating our position as one of the world’s most connected airlines.

“We also invite all passengers to enjoy the extra capacity and flexibility provided by the 66 additional weekly frequencies we are adding to 20 existing destinations in our network. We are dedicated to giving our customers more options and flexibility when planning their business and leisure trips. These new flights are being added in response to market demand and are testament to our hard working team at Qatar Airways who continue to set the benchmark in the industry from customer service to catering and in-flight entertainment.”

The seasonal flights to Santorini, Greece and Dubrovnik, Croatia will be operated by an Airbus A320, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class.

New destinations:

Dubrovnik, Croatia – Three weekly flights expanding to five (18 May to 30 September)

Santorini, Greece – up to four weekly flights

Osaka, Japan – five weekly flights expanding to daily from 23 June 2020

The following frequency increases are planned for 2020:

Europe

Adana, Turkey will increase from three to five weekly flights

Antalya, Turkey will increase from three to five weekly flights

Athens, Greece will increase from three to four daily flights

Belgrade, Serbia will increase from seven to 10 weekly flights

Bodrum, Turkey will increase from three to five weekly flights

Edinburgh, Scotland will increase from 10 to 14 weekly flights

Oslo, Norway will increase from 10 to 14 weekly flights

Venice, Italy will increase from seven to 11 weekly flights

Warsaw, Poland will increase from 14 to 18 weekly flights

Zurich, Switzerland will increase from 14 to 18 weekly flights

Africa

Maputo, Mozambique will increase from three to five weekly flights

Windhoek, Namibia will increase from five to seven weekly flights

Three of the seven weekly flights to Kigali, Rwanda to be delinked from Entebbe, Uganda and operate direct non-stop flights to each destination

Daily service to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania will be delinked with non-stop direct daily flights to each destination

Asia

Colombo, Sri Lanka will increase from four to five daily flights

Dhaka, Bangladesh will increase from three to four daily flights

Penang and Langkawi, Malaysia combined service will increase from five to seven weekly flights

Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines announce significant codeshare expansion

Qatar Airways is pleased to announce expanded codeshare cooperation with SriLankan Airlines, starting from 23 December. This new codeshare agreement will strengthen the two airlines’ strategic partnership, first initiated in 2016.

The expanded codeshare agreement will be rolled out in phases and once fully implemented will allow SriLankan Airlines’ passengers to book travel to 33 additional Qatar Airways destinations* in Europe, America, and Africa. Combined with the two airlines’ existing codeshare agreement, this brings the total Qatar Airways destinations offered under SriLankan Airlines’ flight numbers to 53.

Phase one has opened for sale today for travel starting on 23 December with SriLankan Airline passengers able to book travel to eight additional Qatar Airways’ destinations – Athens, Greece; Belgrade, Serbia; Brussels, Belgium; Dublin, Ireland; Helsinki, Finland; Munich, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic and Thessaloniki, Greece.

Qatar Airways’ passengers will benefit from access to exciting new destinations in the Maldives thanks to the expanded codeshare agreement. They will now be able to book travel on SriLankan Airlines’ flights to the island of Gan in Addu Atoll, the southernmost point of the Maldives. The new destination complements the existing SriLankan Airlines’ routes available to Qatar Airways passengers – Colombo in Sri Lanka and Male in the Maldives.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Since 2016 both airlines have witnessed the significant benefits codeshare cooperation has brought, providing passengers with unrivalled service and seamless connections. The expansion of codeshare cooperation between Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines is a natural next step in the strengthening of our close partnership.”

SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Vipula Gunatilleka, said: “We are delighted to further strengthen the bonds of our long-time partnership with our fellow oneworld member Qatar Airways, and feel certain that the valued passengers of both our airlines will reap the benefits of this close co-operation.”

Qatar Airways began flying to Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1994. Today, it is one of the airline’s most popular routes, served by a four-times daily service. In 2016, Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines announced a codeshare agreement to provide greater connectivity and new destinations to their passengers.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), to more than 160 destinations worldwide. The world’s fastest-growing airline has added a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network this year, including Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; and Langkawi, Malaysia. The airline will add Gaborone, Botswana, in 2019 to its extensive route network along with Luanda, Angola; and Osaka, Japan, in 2020.

SriLankan Airlines serves 109 destinations in 48 countries from its hub, Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo (CMB). As oneworld alliance partners, customers of both airlines are ensured recognition of their frequent-flyer status and benefits including access to lounges worldwide, through check-in, extra baggage allowance, plus accrual and redemption of miles, priority check-in and boarding across the carriers’ networks.

*Subject to regulatory approval.