Expedited expansion plans see Qatar Airways widen network across Eastern Europe with services to Prague and Skopje already launched this summer
New route to provide direct service from Doha to the capital of Ukraine
Daily service to be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft
DOHA, Qatar – The first Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Kyiv touched down on 28 August at Boryspil International Airport, marking the launch of direct daily flights between Doha and the Ukrainian capital. The new route by the World’s Best Airline will be served with an Airbus A320 aircraft.
Travelling yesterday on the inaugural Qatar Airways flight to Kyiv was Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Ehab Amin, who was welcomed with a traditional airport arrival ceremony hosted by Chief Executive Officer of Kyiv Boryspil International Airport, Mr. Pavlo Riabikin, and attended by Qatar’s Ambassador to Ukraine, His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Khalifa. Today, Mr. Ehab Amin gave a press conference and dinner with media and key trade partners, highlighting the airline’s expansion plans.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “We are delighted to launch direct service to Kyiv, a much-anticipated addition to our global network. This new route will connect businesses in Kyiv and across Ukraine to new business partners from around the globe, while also appealing to leisure travellers, offering them the opportunity to experience this charming city. Kyiv is just one of several new European destinations launched by Qatar Airways this summer, including Prague and Skopje, opening new gateways across Eastern Europe and linking these cities to our extensive global network of more than 150 destinations.”
Chief Executive Officer of Kyiv Boryspil International Airport, Mr. Pavlo Riabikin, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Qatar Airways inaugural flight here to Boryspil. We hope that this will mark the beginning of a long-term mutually beneficial partnership. Developing cooperation with the best airline companies in the world is a matter of fundamental importance for us. Yesterday’s arrival heralds a further step in qualitative development of the main airport of Ukraine.”
Kyiv, one of Eastern Europe’s undiscovered cultural jewels, is filled with striking architecture and many art galleries and museums. The city is both historic and modern at the same time, and is quickly becoming a popular must-visit destination for travellers from around the globe.
Passengers from Kyiv will not only be able to take advantage of smooth and efficient transfers through the airline’s home and hub, Hamad International Airport, to more than 150 global destinations, but also take the opportunity to visit the State of Qatar itself.
Emerging as an increasingly popular leisure destination, it is now even easier for Ukrainians to visit the cosmopolitan Middle Eastern country where a new visa waiver scheme means they can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival.
The new daily flights to Kyiv will provide over 10 tonnes of belly capacity each week, supporting the growing food product, pharmaceutical and civil aircraft industries in Ukraine. Through the airline’s expanding cargo network, Qatar Airways Cargo connects Ukraine to its trade partners in Middle East and Asia via an easy transit at cargo carrier’s Doha hub. The belly service is also complemented with a local trucking network to and from Kyiv airport.
Qatar Airways has a host of other exciting new destinations planned for the remainder of this year and 2018, including Canberra, Australia; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; San Francisco, U.S. and Santiago, Chile, to name just a few.
This year, Qatar Airways was named Airline of the Year by the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards for the fourth time. In addition, Qatar Airways was also named Best Airline in the Middle East, World’s Best Business Class and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.
Flight Schedules:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Doha (DOH) to Kyiv (KBP) QR297 departs 15:15 arrives 20:55
Kyiv (KBP) to Doha (DOH) QR298 departs 23:45 arrives 05:05 +1
Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Doha (DOH) to Kyiv (KBP) QR295 departs 06:45 arrives 12:25
Kyiv (KBP) to Doha (DOH) QR296 departs 13:25 arrives 18:45
For images please visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/qatarairways/albums/72157688276329815
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. The world’s fast growing airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2017/18, including Dublin, Nice, Skopje, Sarajevo and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of 200 aircraft.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was recently named Airline of the Year by the 2017 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named World’s Best Business Class, Best Airline in the Middle East, and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.
Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message - Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves 60 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally with 200 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes eight Airbus A330 freighters and 12 Boeing 777 freighters.
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200