The first Qatar Airways nonstop flight from Doha to Sarajevo touched down yesterday at Sarajevo International Airport, where it was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute. The newlylaunched service to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina will operate a four times-weekly schedule on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, with a flight time of just six hours. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker travelled on board the inaugural flight with the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Ambassador to Qatar, Tarik Sadović, whose support has led to the launch of the scheduled service, and was greeted by Qatar’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rashid bin Mubarak Al Kuwari; Armin Kajmaković, Director Sarajevo International Airport and Mayor of Sarajevo, Abdulah Skaka. “Following the launch of service to three Eastern European capitals this summer, we are excited to be adding Sarajevo as our fourth destination in this region to our global route network,” said Akbar Al Baker. “As the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are confident that this will be a popular and much-anticipated gateway into the country for both business and leisure travellers from across our network. With four weekly flights in service, passengers travelling from Sarajevo are now connected seamlessly to more than 150 destinations, via our state-of-the-art hub in Doha,” he said. “Following the launch of the Doha to Sarajevo direct flight service, we open a new chapter in relations between two friendly countries: Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This will greatly facilitate our cooperation and initiate development in various areas.
We thank Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for his wise leadership and support,” said Tarik Sadović. “We especially thank and congratulate Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker and his associates for bringing the world’s best airline to Sarajevo,” he said. He added “We welcome their readiness to promote Bosnia and Herzegovina in Qatar and beyond in key global markets. We congratulate all the domestic decision makers on a job well-done. We are pleased to point out that the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Doha has in its capacity successfully completed this diplomatic task and was a reliable partner during the entire process”. “It is our pleasure that Qatar Airways, one of the most credible international carriers, which has a fleet of more than 200 of the most sophisticated aircraft that fly to more than 150 destinations all over the world, has recognised Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a promising tourist and business destination,” said Armin Kajmaković. “Thanks to this scheduled air service to Doha, as one of the biggest hubs in the world, from now on our passengers with only one transfer may reach almost any destination in the world. This air service is especially important for our many citizens working in Qatar,” he added. Qatar Airways will operate four times a week to Sarajevo with an Airbus A320 aircraft, which features 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class.
From www.thepeninsulaqatar.com , pg 5