Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker, Qatari Transport Minister Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti and the Thai Ambassador to Qatar were all on board the flight when it touched down early on Wednesday. Chiang Mai and Thai delegates including the director of the national tourism agency watched as the water cannons doused the Airbus 330.
The Qatar CEO said the route from Doha to Chiang Mai had been added because Thailand’s second city was a firm favourite with Middle Eastern tourists. He continued by saying passengers travelling to and from Chiang Mai were provided with streamlined connections to Qatar’s other 150 global destinations.
12GO ASIA notes that although the Qatar flights will only run through to May they will restart again next October and just in time for the peak winter holiday season in Thailand. Chiang Mai is Qatar’s fourth destination in Thailand. The other three are Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi. Utapao Pattaya Airport will be the fifth destination once flights launch next month.
Direct Qatar Airways flights to Chiang Mai take off
News in Asia
Officials at Chiang Mai Airport welcomed the maiden flight on a new route from Qatar with a traditional water cannon salute on Wednesday morning. The Qatar Airways flight was the first of a four-times a week service which will operate through until May next year.