Doha: Qatar Airways, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, today launched a non-stop service from the Qatari capital Doha to Manchester, the UK’s third-largest airport.

The Qatari flag carrier is now operating flights to Manchester four times a week, bringing its total of weekly flights to the UK to 15. Manchester has become Qatar Airways’ 40^th destination.

The twin-engined, wide-bodied Airbus A300-600R aircraft serving the inaugural Doha-Manchester flight was received at Manchester airport with a celebratory ‘water-cannon’ salute.

A Qatar Airways delegation, headed by chief executive officer Akbar Al-Baker, was welcomed by an airport authority reception committee led by Councillor Brian Harrison, chairman of Manchester airport.

“This new route provides travellers in the north-west of England with a non-stop service to Doha and from there, through convenient connections, to numerous other destinations in the Middle East and Asia,” Al-Baker said. “We are also offering Asian and Middle Eastern travellers convenient services to this important gateway to England’s north-west. For the well-respected industries throughout the north-west, the flights also provide fast, efficient and cost-effective cargo services to the Middle East and beyond.”

Flight QR041 departs Doha International at 01.25 every Wednesday and Sunday, arriving in Manchester at 06.25 local time. Flight QR043 departs Doha International at 12.35 every Monday and Thursday, arriving in Manchester at 17.55.

There are convenient connecting flights into the Doha-Manchester service from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Qatar Airways has opened two dedicated offices in Manchester — one at the international airport, the other in the city centre.

Qatar Airways is initially using an Airbus A300-600R aircraft on its Doha-Manchester route with 224 seats in a three-class configuration. The service will have 12 seats in first class, 18 in business class and 194 in economy.

Now flying to 40 destinations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Qatar Airways has chalked out an ambitious growth plan under the stewardship of Al-Baker. The plan aims to increase the carrier’s number of destinations to 50 by the end of this year and significantly increase its fleet strength within the next two years. Qatar Airways currently has a fleet of 21 Airbus aircraft, which will grow to 28 by the end of this year.

Qatar Airways also includes a number of subsidiary companies, including Qatar Duty Free, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, Qatar Airways Holidays and Qatar Distribution Company.