Doha based Qatar Airways has sought a significant increase in capacity entitlements and access to seven new cities as it aims to counter the growth of its rivals in India.

According to 'Business Standard' report, Qatar is planning to start direct flights to several cities where it doesn’t have a presence, while increasing frequency by four times on its current routes.

Qatar has asked for a weekly quota of 66,374 seats, up from 24,292 at present. The company has also sought government permission to land in seven additional cities, apart from the current 14. The new locations that Qatar Airways wants access to are Pune, Mangaluru, Lucknow, Jaipur, Tiruchirapalli, Chandigarh and Madurai, while the frequency of flights could be stepped up from metros such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, 'Business Standard' reported.