Qatar Airways starts Doha-Hong Kong flights

As part of the traditional Chinese welcome ceremony, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker ‘dots the lion’s eye’ following the arrival of the airline’s inaugural flight from Doha to Hong Kong

BY A CORRESPONDENT
March 28, 2006

Qatar Airways' first flight to Hong Kong touched down at the city's international airport on March 26 afternoon, bringing the five-star airline from Doha to yet another destination on the Far East.

Qatar Airways Flight QR812 landed in the colourful Hong Kong city to a fireman’s salute welcome of the firing of a water arch at Hong Kong International Airport. The arrival was also marked by a traditional lion dance, and a ribbon- and cake-cutting ceremony.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker led an official delegation of senior management and officials from the New Doha International Airport on the inaugural nine-hour flight, which also included media from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The Qatar Airways first flight was received on arrival by the Hong Kong government and airport officials, besides Qatar Airways officials. The welcome party included Sandra Lee, Hong Kong’s Permenant Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, and Hong Kong Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer, David Pang.

 

Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight from Doha to Hong Kong arrives at the city’s international airport to a fireman’s salute welcome of the firing of a water arch

Qatar Airways celebrated its first route launch of 2006 with Hong Kong becoming the airline’s 70th destination at the start of the new Summer 2006 flying programme. The daily scheduled service operates non-stop from Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, to Hong Kong, the airline’s third gateway in Greater China. Qatar Airways already serves the Chinese capital Beijing and commercial centre of Shanghai with four flights a week to each city non-stop from Doha.

Hong Kong becomes Qatar Airways’ 12th Far East destination in a regional route network that already covers Osaka, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Manila, Cebu, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Yangon and Jakarta. Soon after landing in Hong Kong, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said he was delighted to see Qatar Airways spread its wings in the Far East but in particular into Greater China.

Added Al Baker: "With the introduction of Qatar Airways’ flights to and from Hong Kong, we are linking not just two key markets, but offering the travelling public with convenient connections to many exciting destinations via Doha to the Middle East, Levant, Seychelles, Maldives, South Africa, as well as Europe. Today also marks the start of a third daily flight from Doha to London Heathrow which offers excellent connections to passengers travelling from Hong Kong to Doha."

As part of the Hong Kong launch marketing campaign, Qatar Airways has embarked on a brand awareness drive across the city. Buses, underground railway stations and the city’s Airport Express Line station are fully branded with Qatar Airways’ new corporate campaign.

The Qatar Airways Doha-Hong Kong flight is operated with Airbus A330 widebody aircraft, configured in two classes. Business Class features up to 24 seats reclining 160 degrees in a 2-2-2 configuration, while the Economy cabin has up to 259 seats.

The A330s feature the airline’s award-winning Audio Video On Demand interactive entertainment system, allowing passengers in all classes to choose from more than 40 international movies, as well as short programmes to view on their individual TV screens. Passengers can also listen to an extensive list of 250 CDs and 16 audio channels. In addition, there is a choice of 12 video games to play through the interactive TV screens.

The Hong Kong flight is launched in a year when Qatar hosts the 15th Asian Games. Qatar Airways is the Official Airline of the Games, which take place over a two-week period in December.