The national carrier of the State of Qatar expands its network in France with four weekly direct flights to Lyon, a city of architectural landmarks and award-winning culinary experiences
DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways has landed its inaugural flight to the French city of Lyon, with the new direct service operated by a Boeing 787-8, with four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. This new route expands Qatar Airways’ presence in France, whilst also growing its global network of more than 160 destinations.
The flight was celebrated in both the Business Class and Economy Class, where passengers were welcomed with traditional French delicacies and a curated menu offering premium French cuisine. The Director of Commercial and Marketing of the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport, M. Pierre Grosmaire, welcomed the inaugural flight from Doha, alongside Qatar Airways Vice President of Sales, Europe, Mr. Eric Odone.
Lyon is Qatar Airways’ third destination in France, with the airline continuing its services to Paris and Nice. Widely known as the culinary capital of France, Lyon is studded with countless Michelin star certified restaurants. The charming city also attracts film lovers owing to its heritage as the birthplace of cinema. Travellers are invited to experience unforgettable culinary experiences and film festivals celebrating the silver screen in a city that is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The new direct service to Lyon will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 which features 22 Business Class seats and 232 Economy Class seats. The city also serves as a prime gateway to experience the nearby Alpine mountainous range.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight to the renowned French city of Lyon. Qatar and France mutually benefit from a longstanding strategic partnership in various fields, including diplomacy, trade, and tourism. Our expanded network in France is a testament to our successful cooperation, and we look forward to welcoming French and European passengers to travel through our hub, Hamad International Airport, for seamless and captivating journeys to more than 160 global destinations”.
Chairman of the Management Board of Aéroports de Lyon, Tanguy Bertolus, said: “This new international destination from Lyon illustrates VINCI Airports' know-how in the development of new routes, and demonstrates the quality of its relations with various airlines. This connection between the capital of Qatar and Lyon will further strengthen the appeal of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, as well as the Lyon metropolitan area by offering more options to and from the Middle East and Asia, particularly in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.”
About Qatar Airways
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for an unprecedented ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways was previously named the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, and has yet again received recognition for ‘World's Best Business Class’, and ‘World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge’. As the leading connector in the region, Qatar Airways has also been lauded with the ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ title for the twelfth time.
Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.
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