Qatar Airways planning to launch Doha-Atlanta flights July 2016

Qatar Airways recently announced it is planning to introduce new flights to Atlanta from Doha starting in July 2016. The launch of the new service is being seen as the airline’s move to expand its international network to the United States.

The airline in a statement said that it expects to operate the flights between Doha International Airport (DOH) and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) with the help of a Boeing 777 aircraft configured with 335 seats. The airline hopes to benefit from the launch of the new route as it considers Atlanta to be a major business hub of the southeast region of the United States.

Qatar Airways also indicated that it is planning to launch new flights services to Boston and Los Angeles in 2016. The airline is also conducting flights services from Doha to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and further planning to expand its services here next year.

The announcement to launch flights to Atlanta by Qatar Airways has come at a time when the leading Middle East carriers such as Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways are facing strong protests from major U.S. carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The Gulf carriers are being accused of getting unfair benefits and government subsidies, which is in gross violation of U.S. Open Skies policy.

The U.S. carriers have asked the federal government to stop approving any new commercial service by the Gulf carriers till the review of Open Skies agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar is finally complete.