Coming to America

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Ali Al Rais, general manager, commercial for Qatar Airways was in Dubai to announce the airline's new service to the US. He spoke to Aviation Business about the carrier's latest launch.

Why launch flights to Washington DC and New York?

The US is part of our world plan for the airline. As we get bigger we want to have links with various continents and flow of traffic from various parts of the world throughout our carriers, so the US makes a proper point in our global strategy.

Have you been planning this for sometime?

Yes but we just wanted to be the right size to be able to feed in and out of the US. To go to the US with a small network wouldn't be profitable, so you have to reach the right size and now we are flying to 75 destinations and by the end of this year it will probably be 80, which will be the perfect size to link into the US.

What load factor do you expect for each flight?

We are hoping to fly the planes with 85% route factor. That's the objective and it's part of our business strategy.

Qatar Airways' CEO Akbar Al Baker recently said the service was delayed by six months. Why has it taken longer than expected?

The Americans are very unique and do their own auditing, especially since Sept 11. They emphasise these security issues and procedures, which is the general practice for all their airports.

Do you expect much demand for flights to the US?

Well yes. People in the Middle East have been going to the US forever. The first embassy from the GCC was a mining embassy that was open in the late 1800s, so the relationship is there. Both communities, the Americans and Arabs, are keen to understand each other's culture. Whatever you hear on the politics side, in terms of people they love getting to know each other.

So people aren't put off travelling to the US following 9/11?

No, I think only in the beginning because the procedures were not very clear but now they are. I recently applied for my Visa and it took just 48 hours to finalise.

Which aircraft will you be using for the US services?

The Newark service will be the A-330 and for Washington DC it will be A340, which has 42 business class seats. Once we have seen delivery of our 777 we will change over to that.

You're relocating to New Doha International Airport in the next few years so why invest $100 million in another terminal at the existing hub?

It's to show the commitment we have to passengers. We had to build that new terminal because of where we are going as an airline. We are a five-star carrier that needs our customers to enjoy the five-star experience, so while we're providing it on the plane we also have to provide it on the ground. Taking that leap and deciding to invest that much and provide a facility that's one of its kind was a good idea.

Are you not concerned about losing that money when you move to NDIA?

You don't lose because you invest this in your business and everything that we do is an investment.

You're apparently hoping to become profitable by 2011 - are you on target?

That's very much on schedule. The finances are looking very good and we may hit that target earlier. The CEO mentioned 2011, which is the target and that puts me at ease a little bit. It gives me a challenge and when you have a target like that the world is your playground.

Are there plans to launch flights to other US states?

Yes there are, but there's nothing I can mention yet.

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