Qatar Airways has announced that it is making Philadelphia its newest U.S. portal. USA Today reported that the airline posted via Twitter the news.
The Tweet said that the airline planned on starting nonstop flights to Philadelphia on their Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline's CEO Akbar al-Baker said according to USA Today that the route would begin in March.
"Al-Baker had previously indicated that Qatar Airways' next U.S. city would be one of three cities: Atlanta, Boston or Detroit. But Philadelphia apparently rose above those destinations thanks to Qatar Airways' recently signed deal to become part of the oneworld frequent-flier alliance," reported USA Today.
American Airlines and Qatar announced its partnership earlier this year. hUSA Today reported that American has made a deal with the Doha-based airline to "codeshare" on each others flights. This means that flights schedules will improve and connection times, according to American.
The deal will mean that they two airlines will codeshare on flights between the U.S. and Doha and flights connection at European centers such as London and Paris as well as flights to the U.S.
"Our extensive codeshare relationship with Qatar Airways will provide our customers with easy, premium access when traveling to and from the Middle East and beyond," Kurt Stache, American's Vice President, Strategic Alliances, said in a statement to USA Today. "This new codeshare relationship with Qatar is another example of how American is focused on building its global network through closer coordination with its alliance partners around the world."
American has agreed to merge with US Airways and Qatar and US Airwaysa re also already in a codeshare pact which allows them to sell connecting seats on each other's flights and give frequent flier benefits.
."Philadelphia would be Qatar Airways' fifth destination in the United States and its sixth in North America. The airline began flying to Chicago just last month, and also flies to Houston Bush Intercontinental, Montreal, New York JFK, Washington Dulles," reported USA Today.
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