Qatar Airways yesterday added Armenia to its global route map by commencing a four-times-a-week service between Doha and Yerevan.
With this, the airline now connects Armenia and its capital with more than 150 destinations worldwide.
The inaugural flight touched down in the early hours and was greeted by a traditional water salute.
Qatar Airways chief commercial officer Dr Hugh Dunleavy, who travelled on board the inaugural flight with Armenia’s ambassador to Qatar Gegham Gharibjanian, was greeted at the arrival gate by Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport deputy general manager Andranik Shkhyan.
Yerevan is the cultural, political and industrial capital of Armenia and offers visiting business and leisure passengers a rich and diverse experience. With a city backdrop of the snow-capped Caucasus mountain range and situated on the Hrazdan river, Yerevan is one of the world’s oldest cities and “is sure to attract visitors from around the world on the new Qatar Airways service, which places the city within easy reach”, the Doha-based carrier has said in a statement.
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said, “We are delighted to commence the service to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. As we expand our global network, it is crucial that we connect economically important and powerful regions such as Armenia to our worldwide route offering, in particular those travelling on our latest US route additions of Boston, Los Angeles and the soon-to-be-launched Atlanta.
“Business and leisure passengers from around the world can now connect seamlessly to Armenia through our home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA).”
The airline will fly the Airbus A320 direct to and from Yerevan, featuring a two-class cabin configuration comprising 12 seats in business class and 132 in economy. The new service to Yerevan will also add a total of 48 tonnes of belly-hold capacity weekly on the A320 aircraft, delivering freight between Yerevan and Doha and onwards to Qatar Airways Cargo’s global network.
Passengers flying from Yerevan and onwards to any of more than 150 destinations on Qatar Airways will “enjoy a quick and convenient transfer at HIA”, the statement adds.
The schedule is as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - QR285 departing Doha at 8.30pm and arriving in Yerevan at 12.40am (next day); and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - QR286 departing Yerevan at 3.25am and arriving in Doha at 5.20am.