This week we are looking at a story we released on November 26, 2012 about Qatar Airways and their announcement of a new link between Athens and New York.
Here's the original story: Qatar Airways Announces New Athens - New York Link
The carrier made plans to introduce the new route at the beginning of 2013, using one of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the route originating in Doha.
The route was expected to serve John F Kennedy Airport in the Big Apple, and the announcement came just weeks after Delta Airlines suspended its own operations on the Athens – New York, reducing its operations to a seasonal summer service.
Delta Air Lines entered the market in May 1993 with a seasonal summer link and initially operated alongside Olympic Airways and Trans World Airlines. However, TWA pulled off the route in April 1997 to be replaced from July 1997 by Tower Air
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, “Qatar Airways supports Greece with its presence not only in the good times but also in the crisis period.”
“We will continue to support our presence in Greece, creating new jobs as well,” he added.
The new link would allow the airline to further expand its US offering from Doha with fifth freedom rights.
The idea of serving the New York market on a one-stop strategy via Europe was not a new concept for Qatar Airways as it previously flew a Doha – Geneva – Newark routing between June 2007 and October 2008.
There was evidently a strong demand between Athens and New York, with O&D data showing that an estimated 174,000 passengers flew between the Greek capital and JFK International Airport in New York in 2011.
However, two years on, and the Qatar Airways Doha – Athens – New York link is still yet to be launched...
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