Qatar Airways launches direct service to Adana

Qatar Airways’ first non-stop flight to Adana landed at Adana Airport yesterday, bringing the airline’s total number of weekly flights to
Turkey to 41.
With this new route to Turkey’s fifth largest city, Qatar’s national carrier now becomes the first five-star Middle Eastern airline to offer non-stop flights to Adana as it continuously expands its global operations.
In a statement, Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said Turkey remains one of the award-winning airline’s key target areas for growth.
“We are delighted to launch our first direct service to Adana, a much-anticipated addition to our expanding global network. We have identified Adana as an important Turkish destination to include in our expedited expansion plans,” he stressed.
Speaking at a press conference at Adana Airport yesterday, Qatar Airways chief commercial officer Ehab Amin said the airline was pleased to connect Turkish citizens further to its more than 150 destinations through its hub in Doha.
Amin expressed confidence that Qatar Airway’s new service to Turkey would further strengthen Qatar’s relations with Turkey.
Flight QR 438 touched down at Adana Airport at 11.25am yesterday and was greeted with a
traditional water cannon salute.
Amin, who led a high-profile delegation on the inaugural direct flight from Hamad International Airport, was greeted by Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak al-Shafi, Adana Governor Mahmut Demirta, Adana Assistant Governor Mustafa Yavuz and State Airports Authority and Adana Airport chief manager Ahmet Bülbül, as well as other
dignitaries and government
officials.
A group of Turkish performers also entertained the delegation from Doha as they disembarked from the aircraft.
“We are thrilled to welcome Qatar Airways flights to Adana, connecting passengers to destinations all over the world and enabling us to welcome the world to Adana,” Bülbül said.
“The State Airports Authority and Adana Airport chief management are fully supporting Qatar Airways, and together, we look forward to a successful future,” he noted.
Adana, located at the crossroads of Anatolia and the Middle East, is one of the most populous cities in Turkey and known for its fascinating sunsets over the Seyhan River.
The southern Turkish city also offers a taste the unique and authentic cuisine while enjoying a view of the river from one of the city’s rooftop restaurants.
Some of Adana’s tourist attractions include the 16th century Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), Clock Tower, the old bazaar and the Adana Archeological Museum.
Since it launched its first non-stop flight to Istanbul (Ataturk International Airport) in 2004, Qatar Airways has been continuously operating to three destinations in Turkey for 13 years.
The airline also steadily increased its number of flights to Turkey due to huge passenger demand. It launched services to Ankara in 2010 and flights to its second airport in Istanbul at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in May 2014.
Qatar Airways currently operates three daily flights between Doha and Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport, 10 weekly flights between Doha and Istanbul Ataturk International Airport and daily flights between Doha and Ankara.
The three-times-a-week Doha-Adana route (Monday, Thursday and Saturday) is operated by an Airbus A320, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy.