Qatar Airways begins flights to Wales

Wales' capital city now has direct links to Doha, with a Qatar Airways flight landing at Cardiff Airport this week.

Flight QR323 took off from Doha and landed in Cardiff on 1 May, the first direct air links between Qatar and Wales.

Onboard the maiden flight was Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker.

A water salute welcomed the flight at Cardiff Airport.

"The new direct service between Cardiff and Doha is a huge boost for Wales," Jones said according to the BBC.

"It will open up Wales' links with the rest of the world. Providing a direct route into the world's fastest growing hub airport, Hamad International, will also bring Wales closer to leading global markets such as India, China, Singapore and Australasia."

Baker also said the flight marks a new budding relationship between Qatar and Wales. 

"Today marks an especially important milestone for both Qatar Airways and Cardiff airport," he said.

"The new service, our fifth gateway into the UK, now provides the people of Wales and the south-west with an extensive network of more than 150 destinations globally. We are delighted to welcome Cardiff into our route network, and to be able to provide the Welsh people with a new gateway to the world."

But Baker voiced his opposition to the expected privatisation of Cardiff Airport.

"It is important that you don't rush into privatising or giving out the shareholding of the airport to private entities because what would happen is that hedge funds would get involved and they will start charging the airlines an arm and a leg and make the airport unattractive to the airlines."