Qatar Airways celebrated Monday the launch of non-stop daily flights to Clark International Airport in the Philippines. Flight QR930 touched down at Clark International Airport at 09:20 local time to a traditional water salute welcome. A ceremony followed which was attended by airport and government officials including the Ambassador of Qatar to the Philippines Jassim A. Al Obaidli, together with members of the local business community, travel trade and media. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Commercial Operations – Network, Woo Yew Seong was joined by the Ambassador of the Philippines to Qatar Crescente R. Relacion on the inaugural non-stop flight to Clark from the airline's operational hub of Doha. “Qatar Airways has reached yet another key milestone in the Philippines, with the launch of additional daily flights to this fast-growing country,” said Yew Seong on arrival at Clark International Airport. “With our new offering, business and leisure travellers to the Luzon area have great connections via Doha from many popular destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat, Dammam, Riyadh, Montreal, New York, London and Paris.” The Clark Airport route is operated with an Airbus A330 in a two-class configuration of up to 248 seats in Economy and up to 36 in Business Class. The aircraft features seatback TV screens providing all passengers in both cabins with the next generation interactive onboard entertainment system- a choice of more than 900 audio and video on demand options. Clark International Airport is located about 96km from Manila City Centre and a complimentary bus service will be available to take passengers to and from Trinoma Mall and Resorts World Manila (conveniently located opposite of MNL International Airport T3). As an inaugural offer, passengers are also entitled to exceptional baggage allowance of up to 40 kgs valid for travel until Jan. 31, 2014. Members of Qatar Airways' frequent flyer program Privilege Club can earn up to 7,000 bonus Qmiles in Economy Class and 14,000 bonus Qmiles in Business Class for travel on a return trip between Oct. 27 and Dec. 31, 2013. Flight schedules, between Clark International Airport and Doha, are as follows: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays Depart Doha QR930 at 1945 hrs, arrive Clark Airport 0920 hrs next day Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Depart Clark Airport QR931 at 1050 hrs, arrive Doha 1550 hrs Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays Depart Doha QR930 at 2100 hrs, arrive Clark Airport 1035 hrs next day Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays Depart Clark Airport QR931 at 1205 hrs, arrive Doha 1705 hrs Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the new Clark Airport flights offers more daily flight options for passengers and would meet the strong demand for business, leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel between Qatar and the Philippines. “Qatar Airways is now well positioned to offer travellers from the Middle East, Europe and USA the convenience of an additional daily flight to the Philippines via the airline's Doha hub.” “More frequencies combined with an award-winning inflight experience, access to over 130 destinations worldwide, and seamless connections in Doha brings our passengers from the Philippines a winning proposition,” Al Baker added. The destination becomes Qatar Airways' 12th gateway in Southeast Asia after Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, Hanoi, Singapore, Manila, Yangon and Phuket – and the carrier's 133rd destination worldwide. — SG
