Andrew Stern, Qatar Airways Area Manager in Lagos, welcoming Nigeria's former soccer captain Jay-Jay Okocha at Murtala Mohammad International Airport in Lagos. Okocha was one of the passengers onboard Qatar Airways' maiden flight from Doha to Lagos. (The Peninsula)

Doha • Qatar Airways launched its second new route of the year with its inaugural flight to Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, on March 1, a release said yesterday.

Qatar Airways' maiden flight from Doha to Lagos arrived at the city's Murtala Mohammed International Airport with the country's former soccer captain Jay-Jay Okocha among passengers on the first flight.

Okocha currently plays for the Qatar League side, Qatar Sports Club. He was among the passengers onboard Flight QR594 who were welcomed on arrival by a Qatar Airways delegation from the airline's Lagos office.

Qatar Airways operates three-flights-a-week between Doha and Lagos using Airbus A330 aircraft, in a two-class configuration of Business and Economy.

With oil and gas the mainstay of Qatar's economy and several Nigerians working here, there are significant business and commercial interests in bridging links between both countries.

The addition of Lagos widens Qatar Airways' African network that spans the entire continent, from Casablanca in the west and Cairo in the north to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in the east and Cape Town in the south.

"Lagos is a vitally important commercial and business centre and with the strong oil and gas interests in both Qatar and Nigeria, we expect a high level of business on the route, as well as from key feeder markets of the GCC countries," said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akbar Al Baker.

Qatar Airways Flight QR592 departs Doha at 7.30 am and arrives in Lagos at 1.20 pm on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, QR594 leaves Doha at 1 pm and arrives in Lagos at 6.50pm and on Sundays, QR592 leaves Doha at 1am and arrives in Doha at 6.50 am.

From Lagos, QR593 leaves at 3 pm and arrives in Doha at 11.35 pm on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, QR595 leaves Lagos at 11.10pm and arrives here at 6.45am and on Sundays, QR593 leaves Lagos at 11.15am and lands in Doha at 7.50 pm.