QATAR: Qatar Airways on Monday revealed that Copenhagen and Barcelona would soon join the airline’s ever-expanding route network during the airline’s summer schedule by the end of March, 2010.

The announcement comes after several months of industry speculation on the Doha-based carrier’s plans to launch two unnamed European destinations.

As the airlines is presently serving Stockholm, Sweden’s capital, non-stop from Doha, the commencement of four weekly flights to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, would boost its Scandinavian presence.

After Copenhagen the airline plans to strengthen its presence in Scandinavia and Spain with Barcelona being the second city to be connected by Qatar Airlines after Madrid.

News of the two route announcements comes just days after Qatar Airways unveiled plans to launch flights to Bengaluru (Bangalore) in southern India, the Turkish capital Ankara and Japan’s capital city of Tokyo over an eight-week period starting in February 2010. The airline also plans to launch flights to Sydney, its second Australian destination, during 2010.

With six new routes on the horizon, Qatar Airways will increase its global portfolio from 85 to 91 diverse business and leisure cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East, North America and Australasia. The carrier currently operates a modern fleet of 76 aircraft.

Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker of Qatar Airways said, “The addition of the European cities of Copenhagen and Barcelona, along with Ankara which we announced a few days ago, follows the airline’s strategy to expand its operations to diverse and underserved cities from the Gulf. By adding these three cities to our route network, we are demonstrating our commitment to expanding our presence in Europe and introduce new travelers to our award-winning five-star services, as well as provide our existing passengers with even more destinations and convenient travel options.”

“The airline’s business model continues to prove successful and Qatar Airways is looking forward to yet another eventful year, with 2010 shaping up to being one of our busiest,” he added.

Qatar Airways also plans to make 120 destinations by 2013. “At a time when airlines globally are retrenching, cutting capacity, trimming staff, parking planes, or canceling aircraft orders altogether, Qatar Airways is doing exactly the opposite, remaining well on track to offer the traveling public with greater choice of flights and destinations,” said Al Baker.

“Tokyo is Japan’s commercial and financial centre and has been on Qatar Airways’ wish list of destinations for a number of years. It is only now that we are able to serve Tokyo due to new traffic rights and slot availability at the city’s main Narita International Airport.”