Qatar Airways launches flights to Bulgaria's capital city of Sofia

Flight QR943 arrived at Sofia International Airport to a dramatic water salute and welcome ceremony yesterday. The Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov greeted the first flight at a reception, attended by airport officials and dignitaries from the Bulgarian government and local business community.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker led a delegation on the inaugural service from the airline’s operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar. The delegation included the Bulgarian Charge D’Affaires to Qatar, Miroslav Zafirov, and media from the Gulf region.

Sofia becomes the latest addition to Qatar Airways’ European portfolio this year, which has seen the launch of five other routes – Bucharest, Budapest, Brussels, Stuttgart and Venice – in phases since January. Qatar Airways’ European network now totals 26 cities, representing 25 per cent of the airline’s global network of over 100 destinations.

Qatar Airways’ flights to and from Sofia operate with a brief stop in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.

With the Sofia – Bucharest connection, Qatar Airways also offers Bulgarian and Romanian business and leisure travellers the opportunity to take advantage of this new air link and the opportunity to sample the airline’s award-winning service on short sectors.

Visitors to Sofia have the opportunity to explore the city and its rich history, spanning over 200 years. While for foreign holidaymakers, Bulgaria’s main lure are the sandy beaches of the Black Sea coast, the country also offers lush mountains and forested landscapes, ideal for hiking, skiing and wildlife watching.

The Sofia – Doha route is served with an Airbus A320 aircraft featuring up to 12 seats in Business Class and up to 132 seats in Economy. The aircraft offers seatback TV screens providing passengers with the next generation interactive onboard entertainment system featuring a choice of more than 700 audio and video on demand options.