Qatar Airways Announces Expanded Codeshare Agreement With US Airways

WASHINGTON, Dec.16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Qatar Airways today announced the expansion of a codeshare agreement with US Airways for flights via Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The agreement will provide millions of Americans the opportunity to fly internationally with Qatar Airways out of PHL using the seamless connection service on select codeshare flights operated by US Airways. The Doha-based carrier will launch daily non-stop service from Philadelphia to Doha, Qatar on 2 April 2014. Customers can begin booking travel on TBD.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131216/NY32498)

The partnership will further expand the opportunities of U.S. travelers flying internationally who want to use Qatar Airways' growing list of destinations. Connections to PHL through US Airways are available from the following cities:

• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• San Francisco, CA (SFO)
• Chicago, IL (ORD)
• Boston, MA (BOS)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Tampa, FL (TPA)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Palm Beach, FL (PBI)
• Fort Myers, FL (RSW)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
• Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU)

Currently Qatar Airways, which has twice been named "World's Best Airline" by Skytrax and was recently awarded "World's Best Business Class," offers daily non-stop service from New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH) and Washington, D.C. (IAD) to their hub in Doha, connecting travelers to destinations throughout the Middle East, Western Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

"Expanding the locations from which our U.S. customers can fly Qatar Airways is a priority, and we are excited that the expanded codeshare program with US Airways will be in effect when we begin flights from Philadelphia next year," said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways. "Through this strong partnership we are furthering our goal to expand on the number of travelers who can fly internationally on our 5-star airline."

"US Airways looks forward to growing our relationship with Qatar Airways to offer more codeshare destinations across the United States from our international gateway at Philadelphia and offering customers a seamless travel experience," said Andrew Nocella, US Airways' senior vice president, Marketing and Planning.

Qatar Airways and US Airways' codeshare and frequent flyer partnership, which launched in 2009, focused on flights between Doha and the United States and Europe, as well as connecting flights from select European gateways to Doha.  The codeshare agreement will provide customers the convenience of a single combined ticket for Qatar Airways and US Airways operated connections, and will include the benefits of one-stop check-in and automatic baggage transfer.  In addition, the airlines' frequent flyer program members may earn miles or points while traveling on all flights of the other carrier and may redeem award tickets as well.

Qatar Airways joined the oneworld^® alliance on October 30^th, making it the first major airline in the Gulf region to join a global airline alliance. These expansions are part of the airline's rapid growth over the past decade. Launched in 1994, Qatar currently serves 130 destinations in more than 70 countries across the globe, offering 1,100 flights a week.

About Qatar
Qatar Airways currently has orders worth over US$50 billion for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 Family of aircraft. At the recent Skytrax World Airline awards at the 2013 Paris Air Show, the airline was awarded Best Business Class in the World, Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East, and Best Business Class Lounge in the World. In October 2012, Qatar Airways became the first of the major Gulf carriers to officially announce plans to join a global alliance having been invited into the oneworld group. For more information, or to make reservations, visit www.qatarairways.com or call 1.877.777.2827

About US Airways
US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,100 flights per day and serves 198 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,328 airports in 195 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. Military Times Edge magazine named US Airways as a Best for Vets employer for the past three years. US Airways was, for the third year in a row, the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)

For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 44302072, Fax: +974 44302069
Website: www.qatarairways.com

SOURCE Qatar Airways