Qatar Airways dynamic entrance to China`s busiest commercial centre is reinforsed from the introduction of a fifth weekly scheduled flight on the Doha – Shanghai route. The capacity hike comes as the State of Qatar prepares to host the 15th Asian Games taking place at the end of the year in the capital, Doha. China is set to send the largest number of athletes to the sporting extravaganza.

As Official Partner of the Asian Games taking place this year between December 1 – 15, Qatar Airways’ increased presence in the China market will help promote the region’s biggest sporting event – the first time it is being staged in the Middle East.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the Shanghai route had performed exceptionally well since its launch more than two years ago.

“China is one of the star performing economies in the world and Qatar Airways is pleased to be part of this success story and help facilitate traffic flow between Europe, Middle East and China’s key commercial hub,” he said.

“The new Shanghai flight will provide our passengers with greater choice, able to take advantage of a strengthened link between Qatar and China and the wide range of onward routes Qatar Airways serves from our Doha hub. Our passengers will be able to take advantage of our excellent connections over Doha to Europe, the GCC markets and rest of the Middle East. Together with our four flights a week to Beijing and daily services to our recently-launched new Hong Kong route, Qatar Airways is really becoming a key player in the Greater China market,” stressed Mr. Baker.

Qatar Airways’ total capacity to Greater China has now been boosted to a total of 16 non-stop services from Doha – five to Shanghai, four to Beijing and daily to Hong Kong.

Added Al Baker, “Qatar Airways looks forward to welcoming the many thousands of athletes and spectators from China to the Asian Games in Doha and experience the hospitality of our people and our award-winning airline.”