Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H E Akbar Al Baker with other officials during a ceremony to welcome the inaugural Air Canada flight.
Doha: Qatar Airways welcomed Air Canada’s inaugural flight from Toronto to Doha yesterday, establishing Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the only airport in the Middle East to be operated with a scheduled service by a North American carrier.
The flight was welcomed with a water cannon salute at Hamad International Airport and a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Ambassador of Canada to Qatar H E Stefanie McCollum, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H E Akbar Al Baker, and Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer.
Ambassador of Canada said: “It is wonderful to be here to witness and welcome Air Canada’s inaugural flight to Doha. It is another tangible example of the growing commercial and social ties between our two countries. Qatar is an important partner for Canada, and the connectivity these flights provide is another positive evolution in our strong bilateral relations.”
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “I am delighted with this strong relationship that Qatar Airways has with Air Canada under the pioneering leadership of my friend, Calin Rovinescu, who has put Air Canada’s strong brand on the world aviation map. Air Canada, one of the most successful airlines in North America, will add huge value to Qatar Airways’ expanding network. Canada is a strategically important market for Qatar Airways. This service will complement our existing four-weekly service to Montreal and provide our travellers with additional options for travel to and from Canada.
We look forward to harnessing our complementary strengths to increase choices for our thousands of passengers and enable smooth connectivity to a significant number of new destinations – particularly throughout Africa, Asia and the Middle East.”
