Qatar Airways is to showcase its A350-900 aircraft to Welsh travellers next month, when it rosters the aircraft onto the carrier’s inaugural service to Cardiff.
The daily Doha-Cardiff route will normally be served by a Boeing B787 Dreamliner, configured with 22 business class and 232 economy seats.
But the airline has confirmed that its first flight into the Welsh capital will feature the A350, “in recognition of the aircraft’s links to Wales” – the wings of the aircraft are built at Airbus’ factory in Broughton.
Qatar Airways was the launch customer for both the A350-900 and the larger A350-1000 variant, the latter of which it took delivery of in February.
The flight schedules for the new Doha-Cardiff route are as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
- Departs Doha at 0725, arrives into Cardiff at 1250
- Departs Cardiff at 1555, arrives into Doha at 0045 the following day
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
- Departs Doha at 0115, arrives into Cardiff at 0640
- Departs Cardiff at 0810, arrives into Doha at 1700
Note though that until mid-June Qatar Airways will be operating a reduced five times weekly service on the route.
The carrier is also set to relaunch flights to Gatwick airport next month, following a gap of seven years.