Qatar Airways will operate a daily, direct scheduled service from Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) to Edinburgh Airport from May 1, 2015.

The announcement comes just six months after the successful launch of the five times a week service on the route and reinforces the airline’s commitment to provide additional frequencies on the route, which it announced at the launch.

The daily QR027 outbound service and QR028 inbound service, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, will give passengers greater access to the 145 worldwide destinations served by Qatar Airways through its recently opened hub, HIA, according to a statement.

The Dreamliner has a two-cabin configuration, comprising 22 seats in business class and 232 economy class seats that include individual 10.5-inch television screens offering the latest in-flight entertainment options while experiencing the airline’s award-winning service, the statement adds.

Travelling from Edinburgh, the route has this year allowed enhanced travel times from the Scottish capital to destinations around the world with just one smooth international transfer through HIA, without the need for any domestic transfers within the UK.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker said: “We are pleased to offer even further choice and flexibility to passengers wishing to travel to and from Edinburgh. Offering a daily service to Edinburgh is a clear reflection of the popularity of this route since its launch in May this year and the new daily service will allow Qatar Airways to further support and promote Scotland’s leisure and business opportunities to different markets on our airline’s global network.”

The most popular destinations for those using the Edinburgh-Doha route are predominantly in Asia and Australasia, with journey times to Melbourne reduced from approximately 26 hours with two transfers to just 20 hours with one quick international transfer at HIA.

Edinburgh is Qatar Airways’ third destination in the UK, preceded by London in 1997 and Manchester in 2003. The airline currently operates six flights a day from London Heathrow non-stop to Doha, including Business One, the all-business class A319. The airline also operates 10 flights per week from Manchester
non-stop to Doha.

The schedule will be as follows: QR 027 departing Doha at 7.45am and arriving in Edinburgh at 1pm; and QR 028 departing Edinburgh at 2.30pm and arriving in Doha at 11.30pm.