*Qatar Airways to launch direct service to London Gatwick later this month, the airline’s sixth gateway to the UK

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker highlighted the award-winning airline’s commitment to bringing more travellers to Wales, and to connecting the people of Wales to its extensive global route network via the Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha.
He was addressing a press conference in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, to mark the launch of Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight.
“Cardiff has long been on our wish list of destinations to add to our global route map, and we are delighted to be here today to celebrate this important milestone in the history of our airline,” he stressed.
“We are tremendously excited to now be able to serve the people of both Wales and South West England, providing them with world-class service and seamless connections to the many destinations on our global route network,” al-Baker stated.
“We also look forward to bringing travellers from around the globe to Cardiff, enabling them to experience the many attractions this unique city has to offer,” he said.
Al-Baker was joined by Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales and Roger Lewis, chairman of Cardiff Airport.
Qatar’s ambassador to the UK Yousef Ali al-Khater and British ambassador to Qatar Ajay Sharma also attended the event.
Lewis, who co-hosted the press conference, said: “We want to express our warmest welcome to Qatar Airways and its new route between Cardiff and Doha.”
“We welcome tourists from Doha and beyond to enjoy Wales’ beautiful landscapes, traditions and culture,” he said.
“There are many great reasons to visit the stunning and diverse country of Wales, from innovative architecture, world class entertainment, quality shopping and exceptional museums to beautiful countryside featuring rolling hills, national parks and scenic coastlines,” Lewis added.
Qatar Airways flew its ultra-modern Airbus A350-900 to celebrate the inaugural flight. The airline will operate its Cardiff service with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
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