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Tribune News Network
Doha
THE first Qatar Airways (QA) flight from Doha to Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, touched down at Cardiff Airport on Tuesday, where it was welcomed with a celebratory water cannon salute and greeted by the Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, Janice Charles.
The new service will connect Cardiff to more than 150 business and leisure destinations worldwide.
On board the inaugural flight to Cardiff, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar al Baker, was joined by Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns, The First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones, the United Kingdom Ambassador to Qatar HE Ajay Sharma and Chairman of Cardiff Airport Roger Lewis.
To celebrate this special occasion, the award-winning airline flew its ultra-modern Airbus A350-900 to Cardiff, providing VIP guests the opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art aircraft. This was the first time a commercial passenger Airbus A350-900 aircraft, whose wings are built by Airbus in Wales, has landed on Welsh soil. Going forward, QA 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.
Baker said:"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. We are delighted to welcome Cardiff into our route network, and to be able to provide the Welsh people with a new gateway to the world. We look forward to welcoming our new Welsh passengers on board and to connecting them to Doha and many points beyond."
Cairns said:"The first direct flight from Cardiff to Qatar plugs Wales straight into an area of massive investment and an airport with 150 onward destinations around the world. This is the fast track for Welsh companies doing business in the Gulf."
Jones said:"I am delighted to welcome the first Qatar Airways flight from Doha to our capital city, Cardiff. The new direct service between Cardiff and Doha is a huge boost for Wales. It will open up Wales' links with the rest of the world and deliver new economic, leisure and travel opportunities for Welsh businesses and the people of Wales."
The launch of the new route to Cardiff is QA's first-ever service to Wales, providing passengers enhanced connectivity to the Middle East, Asia and Australia, with seamless connections to Sydney, Hong Kong, China, Melbourne and many more attractive business and leisure destinations.
