Qatar Airways has inaugurated the airline’s fourth UK gateway with direct flights between Doha and Birmingham using B787 Dreamliners. The inaugural flight touched down at sunrise on 30 March and was greeted by a traditional water salute.

The addition of Birmingham marks the fourth UK gateway for Qatar Airways after London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh, with the eight weekly services operated by the B787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker said: “We are delighted to commence service to Birmingham, our fourth UK gateway. This vibrant and economically powerful region represents an important addition to our worldwide network and is a testament to our commitment to the UK.

Qatar Airways now operates 73 flights per week to the UK, with 42 flights per week to London Heathrow, 16 to Manchester, seven to Edinburgh and eight to Birmingham, from its state-of-the-art hub, Hamad International Airport.

 

Birmingham is the largest and most populous city in the UK outside of London and is situated in the West Midlands. The economy is largely dominated by the service sector and the city is an important transport, retail, events and conference hub. With eight flights a week, including two flights on a Saturday, Qatar Airways recognises the growth and demand represented by this important region in the UK.

The West Midlands forms the largest concentration of businesses outside of London, boasting more than 34,000 companies including over 700 international firms. The city of Birmingham itself attracts nearly 34 million visitors a year for both business and leisure and is ideally situated at the centre of the UK’s rail and motorway network.