Qatar Airways has signed an interline agreement with Spanish airline Vueling.
The Gulf carrier said the deal with Vueling will enable it to increase the number of passengers to Europe.
The agreement, which came into effect on September 1, will also strengthen Vueling’s hubs in Rome and Barcelona, by providing passengers with a greater range of options for long-haul connections.
Interline agreements allow passengers to book multiple segments on more than one airline including baggage transfers.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker, said: “This agreement with Vueling is the first step in offering our clients seamless access to and from Europe via Rome-Fiumicino and El Prat.
“Both airlines, as well as the teams at Fiumicino and El Prat will work towards providing the best possible travel experience for all our passengers.”
Qatar Airways, which has been operating in Spain since 2005, offers 10 flights a week to Barcelona, and seven flights per week to Madrid. The airline also flies to three destinations in Italy, with a double-daily service to both Rome and Milan, and daily flights to Venice.
Vueling holds a 38 per cent market share at its main hub in Barcelona – from here it offers direct flights to 121 destinations and up to 11,000 connections across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Vueling’s president Alex Cruz, said: “Over the last five years Vueling has been the engine of growth at [Barcelona’s] El Prat Airport and now this new agreement will give us, Qatar and Vueling, the opportunity to further improve Fiumicino’s network.”
Vueling.com
QatarAirways.com