Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker

Adelaide will receive a daily direct flight from Doha, Qatar from 2 May, 2016.

This is in addition to the recent announcement that the airline will fly into Sydney from 1 March, 2016.

Adelaide will be the first Australian port to receive Qatar Airways’ new A350 aircraft. Flying a long-haul service to Adelaide will enable Qatar Airways to maximise the A350’s efficiency and performance.

With the addition of Adelaide, Qatar Airways’ Australian capacity will rise to 28 flights a week, spread across the four key cities including Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the new route demonstrated the airline’s expanding commitment to the Australian market.

“2016 is going to be yet another exciting year for Qatar Airways and we are very pleased that Australia will figure prominently in our expansion plans with the launch of flights to Sydney from March 1 and Adelaide from May 2 to further strengthen our operations in the country,” he said.

“Our launching of flights to Adelaide and Sydney next year will provide even more choice for holidaymakers and business travellers to Australia, and also provide a strategic air link for travellers from Adelaide to the rest of the world.

“Tourism is the major economic driver in South Australia and Qatar Airways arrives in Adelaide at a time when tourists and business travellers are looking for even more travel options, as well as superior service levels that set new benchmarks,” said Al Baker.

Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world to more than 150 destinations spread across six continents. Travellers to and from Adelaide can benefit from a premium on-board experience on Qatar Airways’ state-of-the-art A350 aircraft which has an innovative product design, environmental advances and the intrinsic comfort of an entirely new cabin set-up.

The aircraft comprises of a two-class configuration with 36 seats in Business Class in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring 80″ fully-flat beds and 17″ HD in-flight entertainment screens, and 247 seats in Economy Class, each 18-inches wide in a 3-3-3 configuration, with up to a 32-inch pitch. Each individual Economy seat features a 10.6″ in-flight entertainment screen, and more space at shoulder level for passengers in window seats, thanks to a vertical side wall panel design.

Qatar Airways’ A350 features the state-of-the art Oryx entertainment system, with up to 2,000 entertainment options on individual screens in all classes. The jet also offers advanced air conditioning technology and LED mood lighting to enhance the comfort of passengers while reducing fatigue after a long flight. In addition, the jet will also offer in-flight WiFi connectivity for all passengers.

Since the beginning of the year, Qatar Airways has begun services to Amsterdam (The Netherlands); Zanzibar (Tanzania); Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan in Pakistan, and Abha (Saudi Arabia). In the pipeline before the end of this year is Durban (South Africa) and Nagpur (India). In 2016, Qatar Airways is also launching flights to three new US destinations – Los Angeles, Boston and Atlanta.

Daily flights between Doha and Adelaide from May 2, 2016 (all times local) will be depart Doha QR914 at 20:55, arrive Adelaide at 16:25 (next day) and depart Adelaide QR915 at 21:30, arrive Doha at 04:50 (next day).