Long Haul

Qatar Airways is eyeing the European tourist and up-end business and leisure travellers as it tries to play down its traditional focus on Sri Lankas Mid East labour market.
ldblquote We want to increase our corporate traffic, widening our wings to fly to more European markets, targeting our corporate and leisure travellers dblquote , said new Area Manager for Sri Lanka, Danny Schepers.rn

rnldblquote There are European countries that are interested and in some countries like France and Germany there is a heavy demand to fly into Sri Lanka and bring tourists in dblquote , he adds.rn

rnQatar Airlines dominates a large share of the Middle East labour market, with a total average of one million Sri Lankans travelling to that region as domestic labour each year.rn

rnBut it has stepped up its expansion drive, adding more routes and doubling its fleet since last year to 23 aircraft. A further five are to be added by the end of this year.

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rnAlready flying to 40 destinations, new routes are being opene