WASHINGTON: Qatar Airways has broadened its network in India with the launch of daily non-stop passenger service from Doha, Qatar, to Kolkata, India. US customers may now conveniently fly from New York, Houston, or Washington, DC, with one stop service through Doha to Kolkata on Qatar Airways.

The inaugural flight, carrying a full load of passengers including international media, arrived on July 28th at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport to a water cannon salute welcome following its five-hour flight from Doha.

The addition of flights to Kolkata on the Qatar Airways growing global network strengthens the airline's presence in India, where it now operates 95 flights a week, offering North American customers a seamless travel experience to 12 Indian cities.

Speaking about the launch of Kolkata, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: "Introduction of our latest destination has been well timed to coincide with the busy holiday season as families travel to and from India, one of our most important markets.

"As our 12th Indian gateway, the addition of Kolkata demonstrates Qatar Airways' commitment to one of the world's fastest growing economies with India's rapid pace of development prompting the need for more flights to serve rising demand for air travel to and from the country.

"Qatar Airways has strategically positioned itself as a global connector flying passengers seamlessly across continents, from East to West in comfort and style, with an award-winning service onboard that has become the envy of others across the global airline industry."

Home to a rich mix of creeds and cultures, Kolkata boasts colonial buildings, monuments, elegant buildings and is the country's third largest city with a metropolis population of over 15 million people.

Kolkata now becomes part of Qatar Airways' large family of routes in India that also covers Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Cochin, Kozhikode, Goa, Amritsar and Bengaluru (Bangalore).

Qatar Airways was recently named Airline of the Year 2011 by global industry audit Skytrax, and now flies to over 100 diverse business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, North America and South America with a modern fleet of 98 aircraft. By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve more than 120 destinations worldwide with a fleet of over 120 aircraft.

SOURCE Qatar Airways