Doha: Philadelphia’s Mayor Michael Nutter and other officials held a meeting last week with Qatar Airways (QA) CEO, Akbar Al Baker, and his delegation to discuss trade, business and investment opportunities.
QA, a member of oneworld Alliance, began daily scheduled passenger flights between Philadelphia International Airport and Doha last week.
It is the first new international carrier to launch a service to Philadelphia in more than 10 years.
Al Baker said QA planned to bring new opportunities to the city of Philadelphia by investing in the community and helping boost trade, tourism and business links between Qatar and Philadelphia.
“QA is honoured to serve the city of Philadelphia in the air and on the ground,” said Al Baker.
“Mayor Nutter has taken great strides to make Philadelphia a global city and QA is proud to offer an additional boost to the local economy, helping generate new jobs and create a substantial economic impact,” he said.
Philadelphia is QA’s fifth gateway to the US and features a unique morning route, their earliest North American departure, which will allow American business and leisure travellers to access new connections via Doha to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Nutter expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership between QA and Philadelphia, along with the airline’s plans to bring new jobs, and an estimated 27,000 new visitors a year to the city.
“There is an immeasurable opportunity for cultural exchange between the people of these two great cities and we expect this new route will serve as a strong conduit for trade and commerce via our award-winning World’s Best Business Class,” said Al Baker.
“QA is in the business of bringing the world together, and thanks to the hard work of many in Philadelphia, today we are that much closer to our goal.
“This launch has been a great success for my country and my airline and we look forward to expanding our five-star service throughout North America,” he added.
The Peninsula
