This new service will make Qatar Airways the second Middle Eastern carrier to offer nonstop passenger flights to Houston. Qatar is home to the world's third largest gas reserves and is the world's leading exporter of liquefied natural gas. The airline will link these two energy industry hubs for the first time in history.

"This is our third premium airline for Houston in the past six months," notes Richard Vacar, director of the Houston Airport System. "Qatar Airways is a world-class air carrier that will certainly strengthen the economic and business ties between the Middle East's energy centers and the energy capital of the world - Houston. In addition, this new service makes yet another statement about how important George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Houston are as a global gateway for air travel and trade, and we are very pleased to welcome Qatar Airways to our growing family of international carriers."

Houston becomes only the third United States destination served by Qatar Airways.

"With our geographical position in the Gulf linking East and West, Qatar is ideally located for our national carrier Qatar Airways to operate to virtually any airport in the world nonstop," says Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker. "I am absolutely delighted to announce today that Qatar Airways will spread its wings further into the United States by adding yet another city to its small, but growing US network."

Departing from IAH, the Monday, Wednesday and Friday flights will be operated using the carrier's new Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The aircraft will offer a two-class configuration with 42 Business Class and 217 Economy Class seats - it will also feature the carrier's next generation in-flight entertainment system, which offers more than 700 audio and video entertainment options.

More than a dozen international carriers offer service from IAH, with access to 70 international destinations. Other recent carriers to launch Houston service include Emirates Airlines, which now flies seven days a week to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, which will launch four times a week passenger service to Moscow, Russia and Singapore beginning on March 20, 2008.

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