Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive visits Italian Minister of Economic Development

Thursday, 4 June 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Italian Minister of Economic Development Federica Guidi and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker exchanged gifts during the high-level meeting

At the press conference in Rome: Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker (second from left), Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Italy Abdulaziz Bin Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani (second from right), Qatar Airways Country Manager Switzerland, Italy and Malta Morena Bronzetti (left) and Senior Vice President North, South and Western Europe Jonathan Harding

Rome, Italy: Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker held high level meetings and a large press conference in Rome recently, to speak with Italian media to discuss the airline’s recent expansion in Italy.

During his visit, Al Baker also met with Federica Guidi, Italian Minister of Economic Development, to speak about growing ties and infrastructure projects that involve several Italian companies in the airline’s hub in Doha, Qatar.

They discussed matters of mutual cooperation, including exploring synergies and areas of partnership in the aviation sector.

With Qatar Airways recently announcing its further expansion in Italy, it will add extra capacity into three of the country’s gateways: Venice, Rome and Milan.

Rome and Milan will both have a 30% increase in capacity from the airline’s hub in Doha with the introduction of wide body aircraft on their double daily flights, while capacity on the Venice route will increase by 70% with the introduction of an A330 aircraft, replacing the A320 that currently serves this route daily.

During the press conference held in Rome, Al Baker addressed the media on the future growth plans and recent capacity expansion of Qatar Airways across the Italian gateways of Rome, Milan and Venice.

“Qatar Airways’ growth in operations to Italy are extremely important in relation to the airline’s wider route map, as it is a central trading zone, with many countries from the Far East, Middle East and Africa connecting via Doha to reach the Italian gateways for both business and leisure purposes.

“In addition, Italian companies are having an ever-growing presence in the Gulf states, and Qatar Airways is well-poised to facilitate both freighter and passenger services with the increase in recently introduced capacity,” added Al Baker.

Qatar Airways flies with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an A330 to Rome double-daily, while operating an A330 double-daily to Milan and daily to Venice.