Qatar Airways to Link Bahrain with Houston

posted on: Feb 6, 2009

Qatar Airways is planning to launch a one-stop flight linking Bahrain with Houston, US. The new service, which is due to begin on March 30, will allow travelers from Bahrain to catch an early morning flight to Doha to link up with the airline’s non-stop service to Houston on its Boeing 777-200 long-range aircraft, which it expects to be delivered next month.

This will be the airline’s third US destination.

“The launch of our latest US route in highly anticipated by Qatar Airways and will bridge the world’s energy capitals of Doha and Houston,” said executive vice president, commercial, Ali Al Rais at a launch of the Bahrain link at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel and Spa yesterday.

“Houston is a very strategic route for Qatar Airways as it open up increased bilateral business opportunities for the energy sectors across the Middle East and the oil producing southern states of America. Houston will also be an excellent gateway to the oil producing countries of Mexico and Latin America.”

“Bahrain’s rich financial and energy base gives Qatar Airways further reason to launch the route and establish this key international corridor,” he said.

“Bahrain was one of the first states in the Gulf to discover oil back in 1940 which, together with other petroleum related products now account for more than 60 per cent of the country’s export receipts.

“Furthermore there exists very close ties between the Arab business community and energy companies in the Gulf with those in and around Houston.”

The Houston route will compliment the airlines existing routes to New York and Washington launched in mid 2007.

With a flight time of 17 hours, the Doha to Houston route will be one of the longest non-stop flights in the world.

Last night, the airline hosted a gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel and Spa to mark the launch of the service from Bahrain, through Doha to Houston.

-Compliments of Gulf Daily News