Qatar Airways is seeking to add more flights to Barcelona following the announcement that the carrier will be a main sponsor of the city's football team from next season.
High level meetings between Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker and senior officials of Catalonia have taken place in Barcelona on the back of the deal with FC Barcelona.
Al Baker met with the President of Catalonia, Artur Mas, and Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, to discuss new trade, business and investment opportunities.
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Al Baker said that the airline planned to further expand its operations in Barcelona – the Catalonian capital – from the current 10 flights each week to double daily, helping boosting trade and business links between the State of Qatar and Catalonia.
“Extra frequencies would be a tremendous boost to the economy of Barcelona and the surrounding areas, helping create new jobs and also bring more tourists to this fabulous city,” said Al Baker.
“When Qatar Airways launched flights to Barcelona in June 2010, we started off with daily services using narrow-body aircraft, gradually increasing to larger planes offering twice as much capacity. And we then improved capacity further to the current 10-flights-a-week, which clearly shows our commitment to Barcelona and Catalonia as a whole.
“Qatar Airways looks forward to working with FC Barcelona through our new strategic partnership that starts this summer, giving us even more opportunities to connect the loyal fan base of Barca in Catalonia and millions of the club’s fans around the world.”
On Monday, Qatar Airways said that its new partnership with football giants FC Barcelona will come into effect on July 1.
The three-year agreement will see Qatar Airways become the club’s global main partner, signalling the first time the airline has engaged in a sponsorship with a major football club.
Under the agreement, first announced last year, Qatar Airways will be the main shirt sponsor starting from the 2013-14 season.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker described the deal with Barca as a “fitting match for both organisations, which will elevate the brands to a new platform on the global stage and sharing the same values – passionate about being the best at what we do in our respective fields".
He added: “Qatar Airways is entering a new chapter in our short history. We look forward to working with, and engaging with, the club, the fans and the people of Barcelona to help make a real difference through this exciting new partnership."
FC Barcelona is a club steeped in history dating back more than 100 years. Owned by the fans and by the people of Catalonia, the club is one of the richest in the world, home to world-class players, including the world’s best player Lionel Messi.
Club president Sandro Rosell said: “From July 1, we will be able to work with global company Qatar Airways, with whom we share many things such as the search for excellence. This sponsorship deal will bring great advantages, not just for the Club, but also for our city and our country.”
He also thanked current shirt sponsors Qatar Foundation: “This is an organisation we have had a very productive relationship with during these last two years and which we will continue to be connected with.”
Qatar Foundation will continue its relationship with FC Barcelona as human development partner.
Qatar Airways has been present in Spain for over seven years, initially launching flights to the capital Madrid, before introducing Barcelona to its network in June 2010.
The carrier now operates 17 services each week to and from Spain – daily non-stop between Doha and Madrid, and a further 10 weekly flights linking Barcelona with the Qatari capital.
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