Mubasher: Qatar Airways has announced the launch of its first direct flight from Doha to Cardiff, Wales.
The Airbus A350-900 aircraft whose wings were made in Wales touched down in the Welsh capital late Tuesday, where it was welcomed with a celebratory water cannon salute.
“Going forward, Qatar Airways will operate its daily Cardiff service with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has a two-class configuration including 22 seats in Business Class offering passengers direct aisle access with its 1-2-1 configuration, as well as 232 seats in Economy Class,” the airline said in a statement.
“Today marks an especially important milestone for both Qatar Airways and Cardiff Airport. The new service, our fifth gateway into the UK, now provides the people of Wales and the South West with an extensive network of more than 150 destinations globally,” commented Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker.
He welcomed Cardiff into the group’s route network and welcomed new Welsh passengers on board the Qatari-Welsh made jet.
Meanwhile, Wales secretary of state Alun Cairns stated that Qatar was the UK’s third largest export market in the Middle East.
Qatar accounts for GBP 35 billion (QAR 174.78 billion) of existing investment, he said, noting that “passengers disembarking from the first direct flight from Doha to Cardiff will get the unmistakable message that Wales is open for business.”
