Doha-based airline Qatar Airways is to launch six new routes over the next 10 months.

The announcement was made by the airline’s CEO Akbar Al Baker on day one of Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

Qatar Airways will add Goa and Amritsar in India, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia and two undisclosed cities in Europe to its network.

Frequencies on existing routes will be increased over the coming months, including Geneva, Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Tunis.

Al Baker said that whilst other airlines were in a depressed mood, Qatar Airways was showing the bright side of the industry.

"Whilst other airlines are parking aircraft, we are announcing six new destinations and will have more to add later in the year.

"We are extremely excited to enter the new market of Australia with the addition of Sydney and Melbourne, and expand our presence further in Europe with two more routes," Al Baker said.

He added that expansion of the existing airport infrastructure was underway to the value of US$1 billion and would include a new Premium Terminal for first and business class travellers, adding more than 80% seating space.

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The airline CEO went on to say that construction of the new Doha International Airport was ongoing and a 400-room four-star hotel was starting to take shape.

Al Baker also announced the airline had joined the Aviation Global Deal Group to develop an industry position on how emissions from the sector could be tackled under a global deal on climate change.

In efforts to cut its carbon footprint and maintain a modern fleet Al Baker stressed that Qatar Airways would continue to invest in new aircraft.

"The average age of our fleet will not exceed five years," Al Baker added.

However, the CEO failed to disclose the amount of compensation it is expecting to receive from Boeing for late delivery of its 787 type.

"We are expecting delivery of the 787 in 2011, which is just over a year delay. As was the case with Airbus, we will be expecting compensation, but the amount will remain confidential," he concluded.