Belfast to Doha?

Speaking at a briefing to introduce the new Cardiff to Doha service, soon to go daily, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker said that the airline is looking at a Belfast operation. (Also see BTN 30 April)

“We want to launch services from Belfast as our next UK departure point", he noted. Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and now Cardiff are already served, to be followed shortly by Gatwick.

The airline already flies to Dublin and clearly knows the Irish market. Last month, Qatari consulting firm Excelledia, headquartered in Doha, confirmed it is opening an office in Belfast, creating 22 jobs. 

Al Baker, spoke out against the blockade by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudia Arabia and the UAE involving 19 routes against the Constitutional Monarchy and said Qatar would not give in to intimidation. Women have been emancipated since 1999 and, in a bid to ‘show off’ the country, travellers connecting through the hub, and who have time, can take a free tour of Doha City, including the excellent sporting facilities. There is no visa requirement. Besides its ‘5-star service’, Qatar Airways is the world’s third largest cargo carrying airline.

Now with the title of His Excellency, and chairman-elect of IATA from June, Al Baker said the airline currently operated 223 aircraft. Star of a sumptuous dinner at the Welsh National Museum was Paloma Faith.

www.qatarairways.com

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum