WORLD’S FIRST FIVE STAR AIRLINE ADDS SECOND DESTINATION IN #SWEDEN
(Posted 13th December 2018)
Qatar Airways’ first non-stop flight from Doha to Gothenburg, Sweden landed yesterday at Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, marking the airline’s second gateway into Sweden. Qatar Airways flight 177, operated by the state-of-the-art Boeing B787 Dreamliner, departed Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha on Wednesday at 8:20 am and arrived at Gothenburg Landvetter Airport at 1:00 pm.
Present on board the inaugural flight to Gothenburg was Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Commercial Strategy, Mr. Simon Newton Smith.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said on the occasion: “We are tremendously excited to launch direct services to the beautiful city of Gothenburg, a key new addition to our European network. This important new Nordic gateway will provide enhanced connectivity to both business and leisure travellers, and will help connect the Swedish people to our extensive global network of more than 160 destinations worldwide. We look forward to bringing visitors to Gothenburg, where they can experience for themselves the delights this charming city has to offer.”
Chief Executive Officer of Swedavia, Mr. Jonaas Abrahamsson, said: “Sweden is Scandinavia’s biggest economy and one of Europe’s strongest economies. New direct routes are an important contributing factor, as improved market connectivity is crucial for Sweden’s tourism industry, business community, and for attracting investment and know-how to the region. We are very pleased that we at Swedavia, together with our regional partners, have been able to present to Qatar Airways the large market potential in the West of Sweden, resulting in the new direct route between Gothenburg and Doha. It is with great pleasure that we welcome this top-of-the-line global airline to Göteborg Landvetter Airport. Qatar Airways’ direct route is the result of successful cooperation between Swedavia and regional partners. Together we are showing Qatar Airways the potential in market of West Sweden. It is with great pleasure Swedavia and our West Sweden partners jointly welcome this top-of-the-line Middle Eastern airline to Göteborg Landvetter Airport.”
At the aircraft arrival ceremony, Qatar Airways was presented with “the Key to the City of Gothenburg” award, in recognition of the tremendous benefit the direct service will bring to West Swedish companies by providing increased connectivity to Africa and Asia. The award was presented to Qatar Airways by Mr. Henrik Einarsson, Director of Business Establishment and Investment, Business Region Göteborg AB.
As one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, Qatar Airways Cargo already has a large presence in the Nordics region, operating belly-hold flights to and from Helsinki, Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm, along with four weekly freighters from Oslo. The five weekly wide-body belly-hold flights to and from Gothenburg will increase the overall tonnage to 1000 tonnes per week from the Nordic region. Direct flights from Gothenburg will greatly benefit the automotive, pharma, high tech and general industries in Sweden, and offer efficient connections to Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand via the carrier’s state-of-the-art hub in Doha.
Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, offers a rich array of activities for visitors to enjoy, from taking a boat cruise along one of the port city’s many canals, to visiting the nearby Bohuslän islands, a vast archipelago featuring pine forests framing fjord-like lakes and inlets.
To sample Gothenburg’s seafood specialties, head to Feskekörka, the city’s famed fish market, which showcases a variety of shrimp, oysters, mussels, crawfish and lobster. Or wander the streets of the Haga neighbourhood, where you’ll find well-preserved quaint wooden houses, a variety of boutiques, galleries, and dozens of charming cafés and restaurants.
Passengers travelling to Sweden in Business Class can look forward to relaxing in one of the most comfortable, fully-lie flat beds as well as enjoyavail of the five-star food and beverage service, which is served ‘dine-on-demand.’ Passengers can also take advantage of the airline’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system, Oryx One, offering up to 4,000 entertainment options.
As one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, Qatar Airways Cargo already has a large presence in the Nordics region, operating belly-hold flights to and from Helsinki, Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm, along with four weekly freighters from Oslo. The five weekly wide-body belly-hold flights to and from Gothenburg will increase the overall tonnage to 1000 tonnes per week from the Nordic region. Direct flights from Gothenburg will greatly benefit the automotive, pharma, high tech and general industries in Sweden, and offer efficient connections to Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand via the carrier’s state-of-the-art hub in Doha.
Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) to more than 160 destinations worldwide.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Business Class Seat,’ ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’
As part of its continued expansion plans, Qatar Airways plans to launch an array of exciting new destinations over the coming months including Da Nang, Vietnam after earlier this month already launching flights to Mombasa / Kenya and Valetta / Malta.
Elsewhere in East Africa does Qatar Airways fly every day to Entebbe / Uganda and on to Kigali / Rwanda, flies three times a day to Nairobi / Kenya, four times a week to Mombasa / Kenya and serves the Tanzanian airports of Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
