His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker welcomed in Sarajevo by Dr. Denis Zvizdić
Opportunities for Future Collaboration and Business Opportunities between Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina Discussed at High Level Meeting
DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker was welcomed by the Chairman of Council of Ministers for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Denis Zvizdić during his recent visit to Sarajevo.
In the capital for the official launch of the airline’s new route from Doha to Sarajevo, H.E. Mr. Al Baker took the opportunity to meet with Dr. Denis Zvizdić to discuss the business opportunities and partnerships that the new flights will offer to the people of both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar.
During the meeting, H.E. Mr. Al Baker, who was accompanied by Qatar’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, His Excellency Ambassador Rashid Mubarak R. A. Al-Kawari and Bosnia’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Ambassador Tarik Sadović, reiterated the airline’s commitment to increasing tourism to this Balkan capital by promoting the new destination to passengers across its extensive global network. He said: “We are in Sarajevo to celebrate the launch of our new flights to this beautiful country, as well as to demonstrate to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina our intentions to boost their economy by bringing more business and leisure passengers here than ever before. We thank Dr. Denis Zvizdić and everyone who has helped make it possible for us to operate to Sarajevo and we look forward to building on this strong beginning in the coming years.”
Already a popular destination with travellers from the GCC, Sarajevo is set to see an increase in the number of tourists visiting from as far away as Australia, China and Korea thanks to the four-time weekly service now operating from the airline’s hub in Doha.
The new route will also benefit the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina who can take advantage of shorter connection times to attractive destinations such as Sydney, which is reachable in 21 hours via Doha, and Bangkok, which is just a 12-hour journey away from Sarajevo.
The 700 Bosnian nationals living and working in Doha will also be able enjoy the direct flights to visit friends and family without the inconvenience of connecting through another airport.
With 12 tonnes of belly hold cargo capacity per week to and from Sarajevo on board the A320 aircraft which serves this new route, export businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina are also set to grow as they can now reach more than 150 destinations with Qatar Airways Cargo – the third largest international air freight carrier in the world.
Following the launch of its flights to Sarajevo on 31 October, Qatar Airways launched a new route to Adana, Turkey today, and will launch new routes to Chiang Mai, Thailand on 12 December and St. Petersburg on 19 December. Other new destinations including Utapao. Thailand; Penang, Malaysia and Canberra, Australia will also be added to the rapidly expanding network in 2018.
Now in its 20th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft flying to business and leisure destinations across six continents.
The award-winning airline has received a number of accolades this year, including ‘Airline of the Year’ by the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, which was held at the Paris Air Show. This is the fourth time that Qatar Airways has been given this global recognition as the world’s best airline. In addition to being voted Best Airline by travellers from around the world, Qatar’s national carrier also won a raft of other major awards at the ceremony, including ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’
Doha - Sarajevo Flight Schedule:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Doha (DOH) to Sarajevo (SJJ) QR293 departs: 07:00 arrives: 11:00
Sarajevo (SJJ) to Doha (DOH) QR294 departs: 12:00 arrives: 19:20
Sunday
Doha (DOH) to Sarajevo (SJJ) QR293 departs: 06:25 arrives: 10:25
Sarajevo (SJJ) to Doha (DOH) QR294 departs: 11:25 arrives: 18:45
For images, please visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/qatarairways/albums/72157690277895596
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. The world’s fastest-growing airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2017/18, including St. Petersburg, Russia; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Canberra, Australia and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was recently named ‘Airline of the Year’ by the 2017 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class,’ ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’
Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message - Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves more than 60 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally with more than 200 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes eight Airbus A330 freighters, 12 Boeing 777 freighters and one Boeing 747-8 freighter.
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200