Malaysia is important, growing, market for Qatar Airways, says Al Baker

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia and other senior government officials following the opening of the UNWTO World Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Al Baker took the opportunity to discuss several issues of mutual interest, including developments in the global aviation industry and Qatar Airways’ upcoming launch of flights to Langkawi, during separate meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and Minister of Transport for Malaysia, Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Al Baker said: “It was a pleasure and an honour to meet with the Prime Minister. Malaysia is an important, and growing, market for Qatar Airways as shown by our new route to Langkawi, which will operate from October 15. We were able to discuss a wide range of mutually beneficial issues and I look forward to a continuing dialogue with him and his government.”

Earlier yesterday, Al Baker, who attended the World Tourism Conference in his role as Secretary General of the QNTC, discussed the launch of Qatar Airways flights to Langkawi, during a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Malaysian capital city.

The press conference was attended by Qatari Ambassador to Malaysia, Fahad Mohammed Kafoud; Chief Minister of the State of Kedah, Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir, and Chief Executive Officer of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Dr. Hezri Bin Adnan.

The new service to Langkawi, starting October 15, is part of the airline’s strong expansion plans in Southeast Asia and marks Qatar Airways’ third destination in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Qatar Airways will initially start with a four-times weekly service to Langkawi via Penang, increasing to a five-times weekly service from October 27 on its state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class, with spacious cabins and specially-designed interiors.