Qatar Airways starts three-times weekly service to Gaborone, Botswana

• The multiple award-winning airline becomes the only non-African operator to offer flights to Botswana with the launch of its three-times weekly service with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft
• Botswana’s capital city is the ninth new destination to join the airline’s growing network in 2019

DOHA, Qatar, 2019-Dec-20 — /Travel PR News/ — The first Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Gaborone, Botswana, touched down at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport on Sunday 15 December.

The flight was greeted upon landing by His Excellency Vice President of Botswana, Mr. Slumber Tsogwane, and the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr. Thulagano Segokgo. The multiple award-winning airline will operate a three-times weekly service to the capital city of Botswana and is the only non-African airline to fly to the country.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “I am delighted to add Gaborone to our global network of more than 160 destinations. Qatar Airways is committed to expanding its network in Africa, and this new route – our 23rd destination on the continent – is another step towards achieving that goal. We take great pride in being the first Middle Eastern airline to fly to Botswana and look forward to bringing tens of thousands of passengers to this wonderful country.”

Acting Chief Executive Officer and Civil Aviation Authority Botswana, Mr. Kabo Phutietsile, said: “The new route by Qatar Airways is expected to boost Botswana’s aviation industry and create employment opportunities and skills transfer for the aviation industry. It gives the country an opportunity to fully utilize and benefit from the investments in infrastructure improvement completed in the recent past.  The arrival of Qatar will further boost and grow the Aviation industry and auxiliary industries. It allows for improved connectivity between Botswana and the Qatar many established routes. The spin-offs will facilitate growth of the Botswana economy.”

The inaugural flight is Qatar Airways’ ninth new destination of the year and the third in Africa during 2019, complementing the already popular routes to Mogadishu, Somalia and Rabat, Morocco. With Luanda, Angola to follow in 2020, the airline is making good on its promise to grow throughout the continent.

The airline will operate to Gaborone with its Airbus 350-900, featuring 36 seats in Business class and 247 seats in Economy class. Passengers can enjoy the next generation interactive on-board entertainment system, Oryx One, with a choice of up to 4,000 audio and video-on-demand options as well as complimentary Wi-Fi for passengers.

Botswana is globally renowned for its unspoiled natural environment, including the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, making it popular for its safaris & other cultural tourism.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) to more than 160 destinations worldwide. The airline has recently launched an array of exciting new destinations, including Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; Langkawi, Malaysia; and Gaborone, Botswana. The airline will add with Luanda, Angola; and Osaka, Japan, following in 2020.

Flight schedule: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

DOH-GBE
(QR 1377): Departs Doha 06:55hrs, Arrives Gaborone 16:50hrs

GBE-DOH

(QR 1378): Departs Gaborone 18:35hrs, Arrives Doha 06:45hrs

Notes to Editors:

About Qatar Airways: 

Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating more than 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 160 business and leisure destinations on board a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft. The world’s fastest-growing airline has added a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network this year, including Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; and Mogadishu, Somalia. The airline will add Langkawi, Malaysia and Gaborone, Botswana, in 2019 to its extensive route network along with Luanda, Angola; and Osaka, Japan, following in 2020.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.

Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.

Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 160 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.

Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, B777, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.

Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2022 World Cup, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.

Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 160 key business and leisure destinations globally on more than 250 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, 21 Boeing 777 freighters and five Airbus A330 freighters.

For further information, please contact:

Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200
Email:  qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa

Source: Qatar Airways

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