June 03--RIYADH -- Qatar Airways has commenced services to Salalah, joining Muscat as the airline's second destination in Oman.
Salalah, south of the Arabian Peninsula, becomes the Doha-based airline's fifth new route of the year taking the carrier's global reach to 127 destinations.
With Muscat already served 31-times-a-week and the new four-a-week services to Salalah, Qatar Airways now flies a total of 35 services to the Sultanate each week.
The latest destination also heralds the first of three new Middle East routes to be launched by the carrier over the next few weeks with two Iraqi cities joining the network.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker said the launch of Salalah flights demonstrated the strengthening relationship between the two Gulf states.
"As one of the most beautiful places in the Gulf, affectionately known as the Perfume Capital of Arabia, Salalah has tremendous appeal for visitors across the Gulf, Europe, the United States and many other countries, steeped in history, culture and natural beauty.
Fathi Al-Shehab, Qatar Airways SVP of GCC, Levant, Iran, Iraq and Indian sub-continent, hosted a gathering of distinguished guests and local media at Salalah Airport ahead of the airline's first departure flight to Doha.
Dhofar's Deputy Gov. Sheikh Abdullah bin Saif Al Mahrooqi was chief guest at the event, representing the government of Oman.
Al-Shehab said it was a great honor for Qatar Airways to be so warmly welcomed to Salalah and thanked the government for its continued support for the airline.
Ali Abdul Khaliq Ibrahim, Qatar Airways country manager for Oman and Yemen, said: "Qatar Airways' launch of flights to Salalah is good news for the traveling public from Oman who now have greater choice and more flying options."
Salem Awad Al-Yafaey, general manager of Salalah Airport, said: "Our province has so much to offer, from the beauty of the countryside to one of the region's busiest ports."
Copyright 2013 - Arab News, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
