Qatar Airways has launched flights to Sohar, inaugurating on Tuesday the airline's newest destination in the Middle East and its third in Oman.
The carrier will operate three weekly non-stop flights between Doha and Sohar, bringing the total capacity across Oman to 59 weekly flights.
Qatar Airways chief commercial officer Ehab Amin, who travelled on board the inaugural flight, was greeted by Qatar's ambassador to Oman Ali bin Fahd al-Hajri, officials from Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC), including chief operations officer David Wilson, general manager - Commercial Operations Sheikh Samer Ahmed al-Nabhani, general manager - Operations Ali Zaid al-Balushi and general manager - Information & Communication Technology Dr Moaman Mohamed al-Busaidi, and government officials from the Al Batinah Governorate.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said: 'We are delighted to add Sohar to our global route network. We launched services to the Sultanate of Oman nearly 17 years ago, and ever since, we have added additional frequencies on a yearly basis to accommodate demand for increased capacity to this charming country, known for its traditional culture and the warmth of the Omani people. Now, passengers from Sohar will have the opportunity to experience our award-winning service, connecting them to a wide variety of popular summer holiday destinations."
Officials at the inauguration of the new Qatar Airways service to Sohar.
The new route to Sohar will be served by an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class, the airline said in a statement.
Sohar is a city known both for its traditional Omani culture and beautiful beaches. As the largest city in the governorate of Northern Batinah and the country's main shipping hub, this vibrant coastal city offers a range of tourist attractions and activities, in particular water sports such as diving, snorkelling and kite boarding. Shoppers will be attracted to the city's souq, which offers traditional Omani handicrafts as well as leather goods, ceramics, perfumes, herbs and honey.
OAMC CEO Sheikh Aiman bin Ahmed al-Hosni said: 'We are delighted to welcome Qatar Airways as a new strategic partner in Sohar, which plays a significant role in Oman's business model, and is home to many successful projects implemented by the Omani government.
"The new direct route between Doha and Sohar operated by Qatar Airways is a prestigious addition to the operations of Sohar Airport. We will ensure that all passengers have a seamless and convenient travel experience.
Qatar Airways began service to Oman by launching flights to Muscat in 2000. In 2013, Salalah was added to the airline's growing network. The airline currently operates five daily flights between Doha and Muscat, and three daily return flights on the Doha-Salalah route.
The 2017 Airline of the Year, as awarded by Skytrax, has a host of new destinations planned for this year and 2018, including Canberra, Australia; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; San Francisco, US; and Santiago, Chile.
The Doha-Sohar flights are on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - QR1132 departing Doha at 1.35pm and arriving in Sohar at 4.10pm, and QR1133 departing Sohar at 5.10pm and arriving in Doha at 6pm.