Following announcement of the launch of direct flights from Qatar to Turkey's southern city of Adana, the first flight occurred yesterday when an aircraft that departed Hamad International Airport landed at Adana Şakirpaşa Airport.
Qatar Airways' new thrice-weekly service from Adana to Qatar's capital of Doha officially started yesterday with an Airbus A320 QR 438 flight, which departed from Hamad International Airport at 7:20 a.m. and arrived at Adana Şakirpaşa Airport at 11 a.m. local time, yesterday.
The plane was welcomed by Adana Governor Mahmut Demirtaş who said Qatar Airways' flights to Adana would make the city a new transportation hub.
Qatar Airways' Chief Commercial Officer Ehab Amin said they were happy to have started the flights and that these flights will improve relations between Adana and Qatar.
"Qatar Airways has responded to increased customer demand for service to Turkey by launching direct flights to the southern city of Adana, the airline's fourth route to the country. The new thrice-weekly service is in addition to the airline's existing flights to the capital Ankara and service to historic Istanbul's two main airports," the company said previously on its official website.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker previously said Qatar Airways' new service to Adana would help reinforce the links between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey and deepen friendship and cooperation between the two great countries.
"Adana is an agricultural and industrial powerhouse, so our new thrice-weekly service will help boost important trade and commercial links between Qatar and Turkey. It will also increase tourism in a city renowned throughout Turkey for its incredible local cuisine, making it a real magnet for food lovers. We are delighted to connect southern Turkey to more than 150 destinations worldwide through our five-star hub, Hamad International Airport in Qatar," he added.
Qatar Airways currently operates flights to three destinations in Turkey with twice-daily service to Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport and 10 flights a week to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, as well as daily flights to Ankara.