On Friday, January 29th, Qatar Airways launched flights to Seattle (SEA), which becomes the airline’s 11th U.S. gateway. The 4 weekly flights will be operated with Boeing 777s (42 seats Business, 312 Economy).
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Kicking off 2021 by expanding its West Coast footprint with inaugural fights to the Emerald City comes as the airline continues rapidly rebuilding – and expanding – its network across the globe. The new flights from Seattle follow last month’s successful San Francisco (SFO) to Doha launch. Business Class passengers flying to and from Seattle will enjoy the award-winning Qsuite business class seat, featuring sliding privacy doors and the option to use a ‘Do Not Disturb (DND)’ indicator. The Qsuite seat layout is a 1-2-1 configuration, providing passengers with the most spacious, fully private, comfortable and socially distanced Business Class product in the sky.
QR719 Doha – Seattle 08:00 – 11:20 / Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
QR720 Seattle – Doha 16:05 – 17:15+1 / Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “An international destination renowned for innovation, technology and natural beauty, we are delighted to serve this increasingly important business and leisure market. And, as one of the top airports in the U.S., passengers will have an increased number of convenient connections when Alaska Airlines joins the oneworld alliance on March 31st – including to Alaska, Canada and Hawaii.”
Alaska Air Group Chairman and CEO, Mr. Brad Tilden, said: “Qatar Airways is an outstanding airline known around the world for its excellent quality and service. We’re tremendously proud to join them two months from now as a oneworld alliance member. Our guests will be able to earn and redeem miles on Qatar to amazing global destinations, along with an ease-of-travel experience and oneworld benefits for our elite flyers. Making connections even easier for our guests, Qatar flies to Doha not only from Seattle, but also from two of our other West Coast hubs: San Francisco and Los Angeles.”
As a oneworld partner, Alaska Airlines will connect customers from the U.S. West Coast to Doha and beyond via its other hubs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, complementing Qatar Airways’ existing strategic partnerships with JetBlue and oneworld carrier American Airlines. Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Alaska Mileage Plan members can now earn frequent flyer miles on both carriers. Beginning 31 March, members can also redeem frequent flyer miles on both carriers’ full networks and elite oneworld Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald status perks including lounge access. The two airlines are also working closely on developing a strategic codeshare agreement and commercial cooperation in line with the U.S. carrier joining oneworld at the end of March.
Seattle is the 7th new destination and the 2nd in the U.S. to be added by Qatar Airways since the start of the pandemic. The launch of flights to Seattle and resumption of Atlanta in June will increase Qatar Airways’ U.S. network to 12 destinations in the U.S., connecting onwards to hundreds of American cities through strategic partnerships with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue. Atlanta and Seattle join existing U.S. destinations including Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington, D.C. (IAD).