Direct flights from Penang to Doha
GEORGE TOWN: Qatar Airways made its maiden flight to Penang yesterday.
Flight QR850, that took off from Doha, touched down at the Penang International Airport about 2.35pm and was welcomed with a water arch formed by two water cannons, witnessed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Qatar Airways chief commercial officer Ehab Amin, Qatar Ambassador Essa Mohamad Al-Manai and Malaysian Ambassador to Qatar Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsudin.
Also present were the South East Asia vice-president of Qatar Airways Jared Lee, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali and Penang state excos.
Qatar Airways, one of the world’s top airlines, will offer flights from the airport in Bayan Lepas to Hammad International Airport in Doha every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
It is the airline’s second domestic destination after KLIA, which they commenced flying into in 2001.
Doha is known as the Middle East connecting aviation hub to Europe and the US, especially for passengers who opt to fly across the Indian Ocean rather than the Pacific Ocean.
Qatar Airways will be offering flights to another 25 destinations by next year as part of its global expansion drive, said Lee.
The airline currently manages some 200 wide-bodied aircraft and flies to 150 international business and leisure destinations.