Qatar Airways has inaugurated the airline’s fourth UK gateway, with direct flights between Doha and Birmingham, connecting the city with more than 150 destinations worldwide.

The inaugural flight touched down at sunrise on March 30 and was greeted by a traditional water salute, witnessed by a crowd of gathering media, while Qatar Airways chief commercial officer Dr. Hugh Dunleavy, who travelled on board the inaugural flight with UK Ambassador to Qatar, Ajay Sharma, were greeted at the arrival gate by Birmingham Airport’s chief executive officer, Paul Kehoe.

The addition of Birmingham marks the fourth UK gateway for Qatar Airways after London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh, with the eight weekly services operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Sharma said: “I was delighted to be able to travel on the inaugural flight from Doha to Birmingham. The launch of this new route will open up further opportunities for both Qatar and the UK. Just like Doha, Birmingham and the surrounding area is host to a number of investment projects and tourist destinations that will appeal to investors and visitors. I am certain that this new route will successfully enhance the partnership between our two countries.”

Qatar Airways now operates 73 flights per week to the UK, with 42 flights per week to London Heathrow, 16 to Manchester, seven to Edinburgh and eight to Birmingham, from its state-of-the-art hub, Hamad International Airport

The Birmingham route is operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a two-cabin configuration, comprising of 22 seats in Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats. All seats include individual television screens, with Economy Class customers benefitting from a screen 10.6 inches wide, offering the latest inflight entertainment comprised of up to 3,000 options, complimented by the airline’s award-winning service.

Every seat has direct aisle access in Business Class, where passengers can catch up on sleep in a fully-flat bed or make productive use of their time utilising the large work surface area. Passengers can also stay connected while travelling with the option of wi-fi which is available throughout the aircraft.

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker said: “We are delighted to commence service to Birmingham, our fourth U.K gateway. This vibrant and economically powerful region represents an important addition to our worldwide network and is a testament to our commitment to the U.K. Passengers now have access to more than 150 global destinations, accessed via 73 flights per week from the U.K., facilitated by smooth transfers through our home and hub, Hamad International Airport.” - TradeArabia News Service