United Airlines to Start Serving Doha

United Continental Holdings has confirmed that United Airlines will introduce a daily service between Washington Dulles and the Qatari capital Doha from May 1, 2012 as an extension of its existing flight to Dubai. The new connection remains subject to Government approval and will increase the US major’s coverage in the Middle East to four destinations, with existing links to Bahrain, Dubai and Kuwait City.

An estimated 266,000 O&D passengers travelled between Washington Dulles and the Middle East region, with around 34.6 per cent travelling with United Airlines. To the wider US market the O&D demand increases to an estimated 3.9 million travellers, while O&D traffic between Doha and the US is an estimated 158,000 with around 22,000 O&D passengers traveling between Doha and Washington Dulles.

"This new service will improve travel options for our customers at both ends of the route," said Andrew Buchanan, Director of International Planning, United Airlines. "The Doha flights are timed to provide convenient connections to and from destinations across North America."

The new route will be flown using a 269-seat Boeing 777 configured for eight passengers in United First, 40 in United Business and 221 in United Economy, including 104 Economy Plus seats with added legroom. United is understood to also have local traffic rights on the Dubai – Doha sector, putting it into competition with Emirates Airlines, flydubai and Qatar Airways which together offer more than 170 return flights per weekont he route.