Qatar Airways, one of the world's blue-chip airlines, is breaking into the North American market in a big way by teaming up with Bombardier fractional and charter provider Flexjet.
The partnership, inked at EBACE on 14 May 2012, will mean the Middle Eastern airline can offer its premium passengers connections from its four North American destinations - Houston, Montreal, New York and Washington DC - to a further 5,000 airports on Flexjet's fleet of around 80 Bombardier Challenger 605 and 300 aircraft, as well as Learjets. The service will be offered through Qatar Airways' business jet division, Qatar Executive.
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al-Baker also reveals that negotiations are continuing for 10 new-generation Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 ultra-long-range jets for Qatar Executive, for which a letter of intent has already been signed. Qatar Executive operates an all-Bombardier fleet of one Global XRS, two Global 5000s and three Challenger 605s.
The venture will also allow Flexjet customers travelling from North America to connect to more than 100 cities worldwide via Qatar Airways services to Doha.
Flexjet president Fred Reid says Qatar Airways "shares Flexjet's passion for high levels of customer service", adding: "It's an ideal way for us to provide a global aviation solution to our owners."
Texas-based Flexjet, founded in 1995, offers fractional and jet card ownership programmes, as well as charter brokerage and aircraft management services in the North American market.
Source: Flight Daily News
