NAIROBI, Kenya, 2013-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today, Kenya’s East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Phyllis Kandie, welcomed Qatar Airways’ decision to increase its frequency between Doha and Nairobi by adding four additional weekly flights to and from the capital city. Beginning Sept. 1, 2013, the airline will increase its A320 aircraft flights to 18 flights per week, up from the current 14 flights.
“The additional Qatar Airways flights is very good news for Kenya,” said Kandie. “From a business perspective, it will give increased passenger capacity which will positively contribute towards the economic growth of our country. For visitors, the increased availability to fly to Nairobi directly from the international hub of Doha enables passengers to reach our country with more ease than ever before. All of this contributes to the economic growth of Kenya and towards the achievement of our Vision 2030 goals.”
Country Manager – Kenya for Qatar Airways, Clifford Christopher noted the higher customer demand, both in passenger and cargo transport as the business case for adding more flights.
“As a travel destination, Nairobi has also grown in popularity over the last few years, said Christopher. “Tourists from all over the world are increasingly flocking to the capital city as an entry point to Kenya and a gateway to East Africa.
Demand for transport to and from Nairobi has increased dramatically as a business and leisure hub for East and Central Africa, especially as a result of Kenya’s economic growth, up 4.8 percent1 since 2012. This is in part due to the country’s increase in exports of fresh produce, flowers and foliage, and of course, tea of which Kenya is one of the world’s largest exporters.
Some famous tourist destinations include:
• Nairobi National Park – one of Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries was established in 1946 and was Kenya’s first national park. Located approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) south of the centre of Nairobi, the park boasts a large and varied wildlife population.
• Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro – Nairobi is conveniently situated between both majestic landmarks, and many would be climbers start their journey here.
• Karen Blixen Farm – a must-see for Out of Africa fans, this intimate museum and its grounds is where much of the Oscar-winning movie was filmed.
• The Rift Valley – with its savanna, geology, fauna and history as the cradle of human life, nowhere says Africa like the Rift Valley, on a clear day a person can see for hundreds of miles, right down to Tanzania.
As Kenya focuses on growing its arrivals to three million tourists per year by 2017, Qatar Airways increased passenger capacity will help to accelerate the achievement of this goal. Visitors from Europe, the Middle East, Far East and Asia Pacific will now have increased options and better connections than ever before.
The new route schedule is as follows:
The DOHA – NAIROBI schedule: effective 1 September 2013
Daily
QR532 Depart Doha at 08:40 hrs Arrive Nairobi at 13:35 hrs
Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
QR534 Depart Doha at 02:20 hrs Arrive Nairobi at 07:35 hrs
New Daily
QR526 Depart Doha at 19:30 hrs Arrive Nairobi at 00:45 hrs
The NAIROBI – DOHA schedule: effective 1 September 2013
Daily
QR533 Depart Nairobi at 16:55 hrs Arrive Doha at 22:05 hrs
Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
QR535 Depart Nairobi at 13:00 hrs Arrive Doha at 18:10 hrs
New Daily
QR527 Depart Nairobi at 01:45 hrs Arrive Doha at 06:45 hrs
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 129 aircraft to 128 key business and leisure destinations worldwide.
Qatar Airways has so far launched six destinations this year – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman) and Basra (Iraq).
Over the next few months, the network will expand with the addition of further destinations – Sulaymaniyah, Iraq (August 20), Chengdu, China (September 3), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (September 18), Clark International Airport, Philippines (October 27) and Philadelphia, USA (2 April 2014).
For press release images & captions:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/qatarairways/sets/72157635150243965/
Notes to Editors:
Qatar Airways was presented with three honours at the annual Skytrax 2013 World Airline Awards held during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, France in June. The airline was awarded World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Lounge and, for the second consecutive year, Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East. The airline has also been named Best Airline in the Middle East for the seventh year in a row, and its Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport named Best Premium Service Airport for the third consecutive year in 2013. Qatar Airways has also twice been recipient of the prestigious Skytrax Airline of the Year Award in 2011 and 2012.
Skytrax is the only global independent passenger survey monitoring airline standards and is considered the ultimate benchmark for excellence in the airline industry.
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. Qatar Airways will become the first of the major Gulf carriers to join a global alliance having been invited into the oneworld group. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com
For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 44302072, Fax: +974 44302069
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Website: www.qatarairways.com
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The Nairobi National Park