Qatar Airways arrives in Sofia
Flight QR943 arrived at Sofia International Airport to a dramatic water salute and welcome ceremony attended by airport officials and leading dignitaries from the Bulgarian government and local business community.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker led a delegation on the inaugural flight from the airline’s operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar. The delegation included the Bulgarian Charge D’Affaires to Qatar, Miroslav Zafirov, and media from the Gulf region.
Sofia becomes the latest addition to Qatar Airways’ European portfolio this year, which has seen the launch of five routes – Bucharest, Budapest, Brussels, Stuttgart and Venice – in phases since January. Qatar Airways’ European network now totals 26 cities, representing 25 per cent of the airline’s global network of over 100 destinations.
Addressing guests at the airport ceremony in Sofia today, Al Baker said: “We are delighted to add Sofia to our international route network, further strengthening the traditionally excellent relations between our two countries. We are confident that Bulgaria will prove to be a great success for Qatar Airways and will open new doors for businesses and individuals.”
Sofia Airport Chief Executive Officer Veselin Peykov added: “We are proud to welcome Qatar Airways to Bulgaria and to be able to offer our passengers a new gateway to over 100 destinations worldwide. Sofia Airport is growing at a sustainable pace, gradually turning into a regional hub and I am happy to welcome Qatar Airways on Bulgarian ground.”
Qatar Airways, recently named Airline of the Year by industry audit Skytrax, is the only Gulf carrier and Five Star-ranked airline to operate scheduled flights to Sofia, connecting Bulgaria and the surrounding regions of the Balkan Peninsula with more than 100 destinations worldwide.
With the Sofia – Bucharest connection, Qatar Airways offers Bulgarian and Romanian business and leisure travellers the opportunity to take advantage of this new air link and the opportunity to sample the airline’s award-winning service on short sectors.
Visitors to Sofia have the opportunity to explore the city and its rich history, spanning over 200 years. While for foreign holidaymakers, Bulgaria’s main lure are the sandy beaches of the Black Sea coast, the country also offers lush mountains and forested landscapes, ideal for hiking, skiing and wildlife watching.
The Sofia – Doha route is served with an Airbus A320 aircraft featuring up to 12 seats in Business Class and up to 132 seats in Economy. The aircraft offers seatback TV screens providing passengers with the next generation interactive onboard entertainment system featuring a choice of more than 700 audio and video on demand options.
Over the next three months, Qatar Airways will expand its services to the Norwegian capital Oslo, beginning October 5; Entebbe in Uganda from November 2; and the Chinese city of Chongqing on November 28.
Flights to Baku and Tbilisi, the capitals of Azerbaijan and Georgia, respectively, will be launched on February 1. By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve more than 120 destinations worldwide with a fleet of over 120 aircraft.
Source: Gassan Nasr
