Qatar Airways adds Chicago to its network

The non-stop service from Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, will be the carrier’s fourth USA gateway, following already successful daily operations to New York (JFK), Washington (IAD) and Houston (IAH).

The carrier, which already operates twice-weekly cargo flights to Chicago O’Hare, will use its flagship long-haul Boeing 777-300 Extended Range passenger aircraft on the Doha – Chicago route with an approximate flying time of 15 hours.

Qatar Airways’ expansion to Chicago O’Hare, the world’s second busiest airport handling 70 million passengers a year, has long been earmarked by the airline as a key traffic route that would appeal to travellers from across its passenger network. 

Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said: “As Qatar Airways continues its aggressive expansion, we are pleased to finally offer another gateway in the United States, this time to the ‘The Windy City’ of Chicago, five years after we began operations to North America.

“Chicago is a key route for business and leisure travellers alike, connecting them from destinations across India, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific with a one-stop service via Doha to the Midwest.

“For the people of Chicago and the Midwest, we look forward to offering a great travel experience on the world’s best airline to cities across our network with one-stop convenience through our Doha hub.

“Our onboard experience is distinct and provides an unparalleled commitment to service quality, reinforced by the recent accolade from Skytrax, naming Qatar Airways the world’s best airline for the second consecutive year,” added Al Baker.


Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: "Qatar Airways' expansion in North America with Chicago demonstrates the willingness of Arab airlines to connect the GCC to the USA where US airlines fear to tread.
 
“With one of the biggest population and business centres in the United States, the connection for travellers from Chicago to Doha certainly throws the cat amongst the pigeons and will likely force United Airlines, whose hub is at Chicago, to look at how it can effectively compete with Qatar Airways.”
 
Ahmad concludes: “In the 777-300ER, Qatar Airways arguably has the best widebodies airplane for such a route, giving it immense possibilities for cargo traffic growth out of Doha to Chicago without the need for a dedicated freighter service. Qatar Airways has rattled cages before and it's clear that the lack of movement by US airlines to try and even reciprocate with their own services to the GCC proves that they are in no fit state to tackle the regions strengthening Arab airlines."