Demonstrating that Miami is continuing to evolve into an international city, Qatar Airways will soon be flying out of Miami International Airport. The airport is already ranked as the second busiest in the nation in terms of international passengers.
Qatar, located in the Persian Gulf, is known for its wealth of oil resources. Although relatively small and home to only about two million residents, this small state lays claim to the highest per-capita income in the world. Qatar Airways will begin flying between Doha and Miami four times weekly beginning June 1. Miami will become the airline's sixth American destination.
This will be the first time that South Florida has been able to provide direct Middle East access since 2008, at which time the Miami to Tel Aviv route was slashed by El Al. Plans for the new Qatar route currently include a Boeing 777-200LR with a 260-passenger capacity.
According to the CEO of Qatar Airways, the addition of Miami was an obvious choice due to the fact that it serves as both an inbound and outbound international travel market. The addition of the air service to Miami will also serve to further solidify the area's strength on the international business scene.
The city has already received significant levels of investment from both European and Asian real estate developers over the course of the last several years. Opening more convenient air routes is critical to developing additional tourism and business opportunities in South Florida. According to a study conducted by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, the new Qatar flight will bring more than 500 jobs to the area along with approximately $78 million in business revenue.
Qatar Airways, which has been in business for more than 15 years, currently has in excess of 250 aircraft on order, totaling a value of more than $50 billion. The airline has been ranked as the world's best for two years consecutively.
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, in collaboration with Miami-Dade International Airport, is currently courting other airlines, as well. Markets currently being considered for cultivation include Israel, Japan, South Africa, and Turkey.
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Qatar Airways will start flying between
Miami and Doha in June using a Boeing 777-200LR, shown in these photos |
See more pictures here