The national airlines of Spain, the UK, and Qatar, respectively, are joining forces to form Qatar Airways. Together, Qatar Airways and British Airways already run the largest airline joint venture in the world, with service to more than 60 nations. Iberia will join the partnership in July, revolutionising connectivity for travellers around the world.
As a result of the joint venture, Iberia will begin operating new daily flights from its hub, Madrid Barajas International Airport, to Hamad International Airport, which Skytrax named the Best Airport in the Middle East for the 9th consecutive year. Through the three international airlines, passengers will be able to connect to more than 200 destinations. The combined expanded service of Iberia and Qatar Airways will fly the route three times per day, offering unmatched connectivity between the Iberian Peninsula and important markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The Airbus A330-200, with 288 seats in each of the Business and Economy cabins, will be operated by Iberia. The expansion of the partnership offers customers more options than ever before, including a wider range of award-winning products like Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, Iberia’s Business Class, and British Airways’ Club Suite, as well as a wider range of geographic destinations, flight schedules, prices, and seamless connectivity via Doha, London, and Madrid.
Travellers from Spain and Portugalwill be able to connect to a wide variety of new places, whether for pleasure or business. With more options than ever, travelling to the Maldives and Seychelles for relaxation, Tanzania and Nepal for adventure, India and Oman for cultural holidays, Singapore and Thailand for shopping, Australia and Hong Kong for family visits, and other destinations become more accessible.
Additionally, clients from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia can travel without incident to Madrid, Lisbon, Ibiza, Malaga, Gran Canaria, and dozens of other locations throughout Spain and Portugal.
Members of the British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club can now accrue and use their shared currency, Avios, in a first for the world. Loyalty members can combine their balances to redeem rewards offered by each programme and transfer Avios between accounts.
His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, the chief executive of Qatar Airways Group, stated: “At Qatar Airways, we believe in connecting travellers to their preferred destinations, and our recent enhancement to the highly successful joint business with British Airways includes the addition of another oneworld member, Iberia. Now more than ever, our customers will have access to connections to numerous locations on the networks of British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways. This coordinated effort is a result of our dedication to continuously enhancing the services we offer to our passengers and giving them the best in the business.
Sean Doyle, chairman and CEO of British Airways, stated: “Last year, we added 42 new countries to our joint business partnership with Qatar Airways, and I’m thrilled to see it continue to expand as we welcome Iberia. As part of our commitment to giving customers as many options as possible, British Airways is connected to more than 200 locations worldwide thanks to our close collaboration with partners in Madrid and Doha.
“Joining the QJB with Qatar Airways and British Airways is excellent news for our customers,” said Fernando Candela, CEO of Iberia. The opening of our route between Madrid and Doha has us incredibly excited. We are creating the long-needed link between Spain and more than 200 locations in Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, and Africa through QJB hubs in London and Doha, and we are providing new opportunities for travellers going both ways. Our country is moving towards a new model of higher-quality tourism and, with the Madrid-Doha launching, we are making a breakthrough.”
Source- Travel daily