Qatar Airways has announced a new route to Langkawi Malaysia. The airline will start operating flights to the region from October 15, 2019. The new flight routes are a part of Qatar Airways’ expansion plans in Southeast Asia.
Langkawi is set to be the third destination in Malaysia that the Qatari airline will operate in after it already began operating flights to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker told the media that “Langkawi is one of the most highly sought-after destinations in Malaysia and I am certain our flights will help increase accessibility and boost inbound tourism to this beautiful archipelago. With five weekly flights to Langkawi, our service offers a gateway for passengers to travel and experience Langkawi’s magnificent offerings.”
Initially, the Qatar Airways flights to Langkawi in Malaysia will fly four times a week through Penang. But from October 27, they will operate five times a week. It will deploy its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which features 22 business class seats and 232 seats in the economy class.
During his recent visit to Malaysia, Qatar Airway’s Akbar Al Baker met with the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad and discussed the upcoming launch of flights to Langkawi. They also discussed other issues including the development of the aviation industry.
The Qatar Airways chief also held a separate meeting with Malaysian Minister of Transport Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
As a part of its global expansion plan, the state-owned carrier also began operations in Lisbon, Malta, Rabat in Morocco, Davao city in the Philippines, Izmir in Turkey and Mogadishu in Somalia in 2019. It will soon add Botswana to its extensive network by the end of this year.
The airline is also exploring the possibility of acquiring an additional stake in the Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific. Currently, it owns a 10 percent stake.