Qatar Airways will begin operating daily direct flights from Cardiff Airport, with the inaugural flight due to depart on May 1st, 2018.
The new service between the Welsh capital and Doha will be operated on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The Cardiff service will be the first regular direct long-haul flight linking Wales and south-west England to a major global hub in the Gulf region seven days a week – benefiting both leisure and business travellers by creating a wealth of long-haul connectivity.
Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said:
“We are delighted to announce the launch date for our direct service to Cardiff. Many travellers currently fly to and from London, using ground transport between London and Cardiff, so this new route will allow passengers to fly direct from Wales to Doha and beyond for the first time.”
Services will fly between the national airport of Wales and Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar’s capital, which since opening in 2014 has grown to become one of the world’s largest hub airports.
Deb Barber, chief executive, Cardiff Airport, commented:
“I am immensely proud that world class airline Qatar Airways has recognised the potential that exists within the region and chosen Cardiff Airport to operate a daily service. The service opens up a world of connectivity for our customers to destinations across Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia. Over 1.4 million passengers per year from the region travel to destinations that are available on the Qatar Airways network – 90 per cent of these passengers are currently travelling from London airports, which emphasises just how much demand exists within the market. We look forward to developing our fruitful relationship with Qatar Airways over the coming months and to the start of this exciting new route in May 2018.”
