{"id":5511,"date":"2016-06-03T10:12:55","date_gmt":"2016-06-03T14:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=5511"},"modified":"2016-12-07T15:45:21","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T20:45:21","slug":"atl-officially-welcomes-qatar-airways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/atl-officially-welcomes-qatar-airways\/","title":{"rendered":"ATL officially welcomes Qatar Airways"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"ATL

Atlanta Fire Rescue delivers a water-cannon salute as the plane, a super-jumbo Airbus A380, touched down and made its approach to the gate just after 4 p.m. Qatar Airways will use a Boeing 777-200LR for regular service on the daily, nonstop route from Atlanta to Doha.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Shane Blatt
\nSenior Public Relations Manager<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) leaders on Wednesday officially welcomed the inaugural flight of Qatar Airways, which flew in the world\u2019s largest passenger aircraft just for the occasion.<\/p>\n

Atlanta Fire Rescue delivered a water-cannon salute as the plane, a super-jumbo Airbus A380, touched down and made its approach to the gate just after 4 p.m. Qatar Airways will use a Boeing 777-200LR for regular service on the daily, nonstop route from Atlanta to Doha.<\/p>\n

Interim Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council Jr., Airport Senior Deputy General Manager Michael Smith and other Hartsfield-Jackson leaders greeted the Qatar Airways delegation, which included Gunter Saurwein, senior vice president of the Americas, and Rossen Dimitrov, senior vice president of customer experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cExpanding opportunities for our customers and growing our international reach is one of our top goals,\u201d Council said before the flight landed. \u201cQatar allows us to accomplish just that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, Hartsfield-Jackson is focusing on international travel as an important sector for expansion, not only to maintain ATL\u2019s position as the world\u2019s most traveled airport, but also to further Atlanta\u2019s ability to attract global businesses.<\/p>\n

Qatar Airways is critical to those efforts, as the airline offers a gateway to the Middle East, the fastest growing region in terms of air service.<\/p>\n

As part of the ceremony, which included a photo op and gift exchange, members of the media toured the Airbus A380. On board, they interviewed Hartsfield-Jackson and Qatar dignitaries while checking out the luxe accommodations in first class and business class.<\/p>\n

The double-deck, wide-body jet seats more than 500 passengers.<\/p>\n

Atlanta is Qatar Airways\u2019 third new destination to the United States this year, following the start of services to Los Angeles in January and Boston in March. In total, Qatar Airways serves 15 U.S. cities, including Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Qatar Airways is one of the youngest and fastest-growing airlines in the world. It connects to more than 150 destinations daily.<\/p>\n

\"ATL

Qatar Airways flew in a super-jumbo Airbus A380 to mark its inaugural flight to Atlanta on Wednesday. The airline will use a Boeing 777-200LR for regular service on the daily, nonstop route from Atlanta to Doha. Photos by Decisive Moment Event Photojournalism<\/p><\/div>\n

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