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Tuesday, 1 April 2014 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Qatar Airways will launch flights between Edinburgh and Doha on 28 May.
The airline’s Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the new addition to its route map is set to significantly reduce journey times for those travelling from Edinburgh to destinations around the world.
With smooth and frequent connection times in Doha, passengers flying from Edinburgh will be able to arrive at their final destination, whether it be Doha in the Middle East or further afield, without the need for any domestic transfers within the UK.
The new route is not only the first for Edinburgh to the Middle East region, but will also be the country’s first scheduled service on one of the world’s newest aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Renowned for its five-star service, Qatar Airways will implement this aircraft on this new Scottish route, which will enable passengers to experience the very latest in international air travel design and comfort.
Qatar Airways CEO Al Baker said: “The start of services from Edinburgh to Doha not only offers travellers from the Scottish capital access to the Middle East in under seven hours, but also a quicker total journey time to other popular destinations in Asia, India and Australasia.
“We are delighted to confirm that the Boeing 787 will operate on this important new route and are sure that not only will this benefit the local market in Scotland, but also attract a significant amount of business and trade links for those wishing to travel to Edinburgh from all corners of the world.”
Flying direct to and from Edinburgh, the Dreamliner has a two-cabin configuration, comprising of 22 seats in Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats with a high standard of comfort on board, including individual 10.5 inch television screens on all Economy Cass seats and a full complimentary food and beverage service. Passengers will benefit from Qatar Airways’ award-winning inflight hospitality and, if not staying in the Middle East region, will then be able to fly onwards to any of Qatar Airways’ 136 destinations around the world.
The most popular destinations for those using the new route are sure to be in Asia, and Australasia, with journey times to Melbourne reduced from approximately 26 hours with two transfers, down to just 20 hrs with one quick international transfer at Doha’s soon to be opened Hamad International Airport, one of the world’s newest and most comfortable airports.
Edinburgh will be the airline’s third destination in the UK, preceded only by London in 1997 and Manchester in 2003. Qatar Airways currently operates five flights a day from London Heathrow non-stop to Doha and 10 flights per week from Manchester Airport non-stop to Doha. A sixth daily service between Heathrow and Doha will begin on 15th May 2014 on an Airbus A319 offering all-business class seating.
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 129 aircraft to 136 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas.
Over the next few months, the network will grow further with Philadelphia, USA (April 2, 2014), Larnaca, Cyprus (April 29), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Turkey (May 22, 2014), Edinburgh, Scotland (May 28, 2014), Miami, USA (June 10, 2014), Haneda, Japan (June 18, 2014) and Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1, 2014).
