(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Qatar Airways kicked off an important year ahead in Russia for both the airline and Qatar with the touchdown of its first daily direct flight to St Petersburg on December 19. At a press conference in St Petersburg yesterday, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, addressed Russian and international media, where he conveyed his vision for the airline in Russia and beyond.
'Touching down at Pulkovo International Airport for the first time yesterday was a significant moment for Qatar Airways. This inaugural flight represents so much more than just a new destination on our global network, it carries with it the weight of our hope and expectations for the future of our airline in Russia and the future of our countries' ongoing friendship and partnership for generations to come, said Al Baker.
'As the national carrier of the State of Qatar, we are proud to fly the flag for our country wherever we go. Our presence in Russia will only be strengthened by the launch of this new route as well as by our upcoming sponsorship of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and by the 2018 Qatar-Russia Year of Culture of which we are a huge supporter, he added.
Al Baker also used the press conference as platform to speak out about the illegal blockade against Qatar. 'It puts a lot of pressure on both the citizens and the operations of a country when you blockade it — this is unprecedented since St Petersburg was put under siege during the Second World War. This blockade is illegal because the airspace is above a certain flight level and airspace on international waters does not belong to any country. It belongs to the international community, he said.
'This is a bullying tactic by larger countries on our country to intimidate our political thinking, our freedom, our sovereignty and our independence. They will fail because in Qatar, the people are very proud, like people in St Petersburg during the Second World War: you were not intimidated, you persevered and you won. And it is the same thing that is happening to us. We will win this blockade and we will make sure that our independence is very strong and our sovereignty is respected, he said.
Pulkovo Airport Chief Executive Officer, Vladimir Yakushev, who hosted the press conference alongside Al Baker, said: 'Qatar Airways coming to St Petersburg is a new historic step in the development of Pulkovo Airport and the city's tourism industry, and is an event of key significance in the light of the approaching 2018 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Russia.
'With the new daily flights to Doha, the Northern capital and the cultural pearl of Russia, has gained an excellent connection to one of the most modern and dynamic global cities and through it to more than 150 destinations in Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas, on Qatar Airways' worldwide network. We are confident that the new route will be much-in-demand among the residents of St Petersburg and Northwest Russia, as well as international travellers planning to visit Russia with leisure and business purposes alike, he added.
MENAFN2112201700630000ID1096258224
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.