Qatar airways looks to tap underserved Africa

Besides the route launch, an interline partnership was recently announced between the airline and Tanzania’s largest carrier, Precision Air. The agreement gives passengers the option to purchase a single itinerary to combine flights on both carriers'' networks, offering the convenience of one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in. Broadening the ties between the Doha-based carrier and East Africa, the new Precision Air partnership will provide Qatar Airways’ global passenger base with the option to connect seamlessly to a wide range of regional cities, including Moroni, Zanzibar, Mombasa, Arusha, Kigoma, Shinyanga, Musoma and Tabora. Qatar Airways, recently named Airline of the Year 2011 by industry audit Skytrax, is the only Five Star-ranked carrier to operate scheduled flights to Entebbe. The airline''s competitive onboard product focuses on comfort, fine cuisine, the latest inflight audio and video entertainment, award-winning service and an aircraft fleet that is young, modern, averaging less than four years old. By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve more than 120 key business and leisure destinations worldwide with a fleet of over 120 aircraft. Today, the airline’s fleet of over 100 aircraft flies to more than 100 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. The Doha-Entebbe schedules, with effect from November 2 are: - On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays: Depart Doha QR536 at 0800 hrs, arrive Entebbe at 1330 hrs. Depart Entebbe QR537 at 1810 hrs, arrive Doha at 2315 hrs. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays: Depart Doha QR538 at 0115 hrs, arrive Entebbe at 0645 hrs. Depart Entebbe QR539 at 1410 hrs, arrive Doha at 1915 hrs.