Airline will fly Doha-Penang route three times a week and will increase frequency to four flights weekly from July.
The airport currently serves domestic, Asean and secondary Chinese destinations.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner used for flight QR850 left Hamad International Airport this morning on an eight-hour flight to Penang airport, arriving at 2.30pm.
Qatar Airways chief commercial officer Ehab Amin led the delegation, accompanied by Malaysian ambassador to Qatar Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin.
They were greeted by Qatari ambassador to Malaysia Essa Bin Mohamed Al-Mannai, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) managing director Badlisham Ghazali, and Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan.
At a press conference later, Ehab said the airline will fly three times a week to Penang.
The Boeing aircraft has 22 business class seats and 232 economy class seats.
The flight frequency will be increased to four times weekly from July 1.
Ehab said the entry to Penang is part of its robust expansion plans throughout Southeast Asia.
“We are delighted to launch direct flights to Penang, a long-anticipated addition to our global route network.
“Our Kuala Lumpur service started in 2001, and it has since grown to a triple-daily direct non-stop service to and from Doha.
“The addition of Penang to our global network comes as part of our continued expansion plans throughout eastern Asia.
“We recently launched direct services to Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Pattaya, as well as added services to Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi,” he said.
On why the airline intends to increase the frequency for the Penang route from three to four times weekly from July, Ehab said this was due to a strong demand in leisure and business.
He also added that the airline would be delighted to service the cargo sector in Penang as well.
Lim thanked Qatar Airways for choosing Penang as its second destination in Malaysia and also for its decision to increase the frequency in July, just five months after the start of the service today.
He noted that the tourism and hotel sector, one of the state’s main economic contributors, is doing very well, with more tourist arrivals.
“The state has also been getting international accolades, putting the state on the world map.
“Penang has come very far. From barely three million passengers last year, the passenger traffic at the airport hit an all-time high of 7.2 million passengers last year.
“Penang airport has a lot of room to grow. I wish to thank Badlisham for assuring me that the airport expansion to increase the passenger capacity from 6.5 million to 12 million passengers a year, will get off the ground quickly.
“We look forward to the expansion,” he said.
Lim stated that apart from tourism and trade, another area being considered for greater cooperation between Qatar and Penang is the halal industry.
He said Penang has a vibrant halal industry and they looked forward to what the state can do, through its state executive councillor in charge of the halal industry portfolio, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.
Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 150 business and leisure destinations. Apart from Penang, the airline will also be adding Canberra, Australia, and Cardiff, United Kingdom, to its list of destinations this year.
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