Qatar Airways opens flights to two new destinations in Nigeria

Qatar Airways now offers flights from Kano and Port Harcourt, two destinations in Nigeria.

The inaugural flights to these destinations were launched last Thursday. The Qatari national airline offers four flights a week between its base in Doha-Hamad International and Kano-Mallam Aminu airport, operated via Abuja-Nnamdi Azikiwe in a  787-8 Dreamliner that can accommodate 22 passengers in Business class and 232 in Economy. . Departures are scheduled Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 2:50 a.m. to arrive at 11:10 a.m. after a one-hour stopover in Abuja; return flights take off at 4:50 p.m. to arrive the next day at 4:10 a.m., still via the capital. Qatar Airways is without competition on this route, Kano being also served by EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Saudia or Flynas among others.

On the other three days of the week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), the 787-8 from the Onewodoha rld alliance company takes off from Doha at 2:50 a.m. to arrive at Port Harcourt airport at 11:20 a.m.; then he leaves at 4:40 p.m. to land the next day at 4:10 a.m., still via a stopover in Abuja in both directions. No competition there either for Qatar Airways, the Nigerian airport being served by Air France, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, among others.

The airline currently operates two daily flights to Lagos-Murtala Muhammed and therefore one daily to Abuja. Kano and Port Harcourt are the “seventh and eight new gateways in Africa” launched by Qatar Airways since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; it now offers 188 weekly flights to 28 destinations in Africa.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “This is a watershed moment for Qatar Airways as Nigeria becomes our most connected market in Africa with the launch of our new services to Kano and Port Harcourt. We see huge opportunities in the region and these new roads are an important catalyst to further boost trade and commerce in the country.