Qatar Airways launches Doha-Auckland service

Qatar Airways, via its official Facebook and Twitter account, confirmed (05-Feb-2017) it commenced daily Doha-Auckland service with Boeing 777-200LR equipment on 06-Feb-2017 - see Route Changes Table for more information. The airline said the 14,535km, 17 hour and 30 minute route is, "the world's longest commercial flight." The new service adds more than 189,000 seats and 6000 tonnes of cargo capacity p/a, equating to a NZD198 million (USD144.9 million) of economic value p/a. Welcoming the service, Auckland International Airport acting GM aeronautical commercial Scott Tasker said, "We expect the new route to be particularly popular with European visitors to New Zealand, and that this will help New Zealand continue to grow and diversify its inbound visitor markets". [more - original PR]