Qatar Airways launches Larnaca route

Qatar Airways' inaugural flight landed at Larnaca International Airport today, becoming the airline's 138th destination from Doha.
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Above: Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight from Doha to Larnaca QR265 is greeted with a traditional water salute at Larnaca International Airport on Tuesday, 29 April 2014.

The inaugural flight signals the start of a four-time weekly service to Larnaca that will be operated by an Airbus A320, with 12 seats in Business Class and 132 in Economy.

The inaugural flight, which carried Qatar Airways dignitaries as well as commercial passengers, was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, while the Chief Executive Officer of Hermes Airports, Mr. Wes Porter, led the welcoming committee.

Mr. Marwan Koleilat, Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: "Cyprus is a fantastic destination and Qatar Airways is thrilled to be providing this new scheduled service to Larnaca. At Qatar Airways we strive to provide our passengers with a strong global network of business and leisure destinations, and the city of Larnaca is a welcome new addition to our extensive route map. Scheduled flights between Cyprus and Qatar have long been an aspiration for the airline and we believe travellers will truly appreciate our five-star service, together with the enhanced network of flights to more than 135 destinations around the world.”

The new route is expected to become a popular choice for both business and leisure passengers, expanding bilateral relations between Cyprus and Qatar. The launch of the airline’s flights to Larnaca signals a strengthening connection between the two countries that opens up new opportunities for mutually beneficial relations, by promoting and expanding economic and trade relations.

Commenting on Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight to Larnaca, the CEO of Hermes Airport Mr. Wes Porter, said: “The arrival of Qatar Airways at Larnaca is an important milestone not only for Hermes Airports but also for the Republic of Cyprus. This new route will not only promote and support tourism development between Cyprus and Qatar, but will also improve the connectivity of Cyprus to the East. Likewise, it will be an excellent opportunity for Qatar Airways to develop its accessibility to Europe through Cyprus. This inaugural flight is an opportunity to acknowledge the excellent cooperation between Cyprus and Qatar and we are looking forward to seeing further development of our business relations.”

Qatar Airways has recently taken advantage of their alliance network with the commencement of code shares with fellow oneworld member Cathay Pacific. The codeshare provide added benefits for passengers who already are able to take advantage of lounge access, increased connectivity and over 14,000 daily departures.

The Doha - Larnaca service will operate four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.