Doha
Qatar Airways has announced an expanded unilateral code-share partnership with JetBlue Airways, adding six new destinations and increasing the number of flights along existing code-share segments. New routes and flights are now available for travel.
The expanded agreement provides new code-share routes from New York (JFK) to and from the US mainland destinations Albuquerque (ABQ), Daytona Beach (DAB), Reno (RNO) and Savannah (SAV), along with two Puerto Rican destinations, Aguadilla (BQN) and Ponce (PSE).
New routes give JetBlue and Qatar Airways travellers better connections across destinations in the US.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said the strengthening of the code-share agreement comes at a time when Qatar Airways is focused upon significantly expanding its own direct links to the US, with the launch of non-stop services to Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston in 2016.
In addition to the new destinations, the partnership will increase the number of codeshare flights along existing routes to Buffalo (BUF), Burlington (BTV), Charleston (CHS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Fort Myers (RSW), Jacksonville (JAX), New Orleans (MSY), Oakland (OAK), Portland (PWM), Rochester (ROC), Syracuse (SYR) and Tampa (TPA).
The expanded agreement will also include connections to and from Qatar Airways’ second daily Doha to New York flight beginning March 1, 2016. The second daily service will be operated by the airline’s latest flagship Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, of which Qatar Airways was the Global Launch Customer.
The new state-of-the-art aircraft is ergonomically designed to reduce jetlag, aid in relaxation, and increase space and comfort with an extra-wide cabin, high ceilings and panoramic windows. It is also one of the lightest aircraft of its type, made from advanced composite materials, which emits 25% lower carbon dioxide emissions than with current generation aircraft in its category.