Article from BTNews 1 MAY 2017
Qatar heads for Cardiff
In a move described by Cardiff Airport chairman Roger Lewis as “game-changing”, Qatar Airways last week said it was launching service next year between Doha and the Welsh capital, the only new planned UK route in its network for 2018.
It will be the first regular direct long-haul flight linking Wales and south west England with a major global hub in the Gulf region. Lewis added: “The benefits of this relationship will be transformational for both businesses and passengers.”
Cardiff Airport CEO Deb Barber said: “It has been a long journey to reach this stage, with discussions spanning several years. Over the coming months, we will work with the team at Qatar Airways to confirm all the details and look forward to the flights being on sale in the near future.”
The decision by Qatar is also expected to boost Cardiff Airport’s current main scheduled airlines, Flybe and Vueling, with passengers coming in from the Middle East making use of their routes for connecting flights to other parts of the UK and Europe.
The Cardiff route was one of 12 destinations announced by Qatar for 2018, with San Francisco, Malaga, Lisbon, Prague and Kiev prominent among the others.
Also on the list are Utapao (Thailand), Chittagong, Mykonos, Accra, Abidjan and Mombasa.
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