Birmingham Airport welcomes Qatar Airways
Above: With a celebratory cake replicating the iconic Museum of Islamic Art in Doha are (left to right) Richard Oliver, Qatar Airways Country Manager UK & Ireland; His Excellency Mr Ajay Sharma, UK Ambassador to Qatar; Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport; Dr Hugh Dunleavy, Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer; His Excellency Mr Hamad Al Muftah, Qatari Deputy Ambassador to the UK and Mr Jonathan Harding, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President NSW Europe.
The inaugural flight touched down at sunrise on 30 March 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, His Excellency Mr Ajay Sharma, were greeted at the arrival gate by Birmingham Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Kehoe.
Above: Qatar Airways' inaugural flight to Birmingham touched down at sunrise on 30 March and was greeted by a traditional water salute.
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.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr 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 UK. Passengers now have access to more than 150 global destinations, accessed via 73 flights per week from the UK., facilitated by smooth transfers through our home and hub, Hamad International Airport.”
The British Ambassador to Qatar, HE Mr Ajay 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.
Birmingham Airport CEO, Paul Kehoe said: “We are extremely excited to be welcoming Qatar Airways to Birmingham Airport. Connecting the economically vibrant West Midlands region with the rapidly developing capital city of Doha will be hugely beneficial to passengers at both ends of the route. Additionally, the large selection of onward connections on Qatar’s network gives our long-haul travellers access to more of the most popular destinations around the world from Birmingham.”
Birmingham is the largest and most populous city in the UK outside of London and is situated in the West Midlands. The economy is largely dominated by the service sector and the city is an important transport, retail, events and conference hub. With eight flights a week, including two flights on a Saturday, Qatar Airways has recognised the growth and demand represented by this important region in the UK.
The West Midlands forms the largest concentration of businesses outside of London, boasting more than 34,000 companies including over 700 international firms. The city of Birmingham itself attracts nearly 34 million visitors a year for both business and leisure and is situated at the centre of the UK’s rail and motorway network.
