By Andy Sambidge

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Qatar Airways set to launch seventh route to China

Gulf carrier will fly to Hangzhou from Dec 20; will operate four flights per week

By Andy Sambidge
A Qatar Airways Airbus A320 takes off from Tegel airport in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Qatar Airways operated on Monday the worlds first commercial flight using propellant derived from natural gas as the Gulf state seeks to exploit its status as the worlds largest producer of the fuel. Photographer: Michele Tantussi/Bloo
A Qatar Airways Airbus A320 takes off from Tegel airport in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Qatar Airways operated on Monday the worlds first commercial flight using propellant derived from natural gas as the Gulf state seeks to exploit its status as the worlds largest producer of the fuel. Photographer: Michele Tantussi/Bloo

Qatar Airways announced on Tuesday it will begin flights to Hangzhou, China next month.

Beginning December 20, the non-stop service from Doha to Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province, will fly four-times-weekly.

“This year we celebrate 10 years of flying to China,” said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker. 

“The addition of our seventh route in China will provide additional connectivity for business and leisure travellers connecting from Asia, the Middle East and GCC countries.”

An Airbus A330 will be operated on the Doha to Hangzhou route, featuring 260 seats.

Qatar Airways began operations to China in 2003 with the launch non-stop flights to Shanghai, with the airline further expanding its portfolio over the past decade with the addition of Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing and Chengdu.

Hangzhou, which is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in China, is known for its rich history and picturesque scenery and is one of the top tourist sites in China.

Qatar Airways will fly to Hangzhou on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

In 2013, Qatar Airways has launched seven destinations to date – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman), Basra (Iraq), Sulaymaniyah (Iraq), Chengdu (China), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Ta’if (Saudi Arabia) and most recently Clark Manila International Airport (Philippines).

Over the next few weeks and months, the network will grow further with Sharjah and Dubai World Central, both in the UAE (March 1, 2014), Philadelphia, US (April 2, 2014) and Miami, US (June 10, 2014).

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