Qatar Airways opened its second gateway in Russia when it launched a non-stop flight from Doha to St. Petersburg yesterday.

Qatar Airways flight QR279, operated by the state-of-the-art Boeing B787 Dreamliner, took off from the Hamad International Airport and landed at the Pulkovo Airport yesterday, reported Gulf Times.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker and Russian ambassador Nurmakhmad Kholov were on board the inaugural flight, reported The Peninsula.

“Following the great success of our Moscow route, we’re extremely happy to extend our reach into Russia. By launching this new route, we’re committing to further supporting the Russian market, and providing inbound and outbound passengers a seamless journey through the skies,” Al Baker said.
St Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city after Moscow, is considered an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea. The culturally diverse city is filled with historical architectural gems including the Winter Palace and the Kazan Cathedral.

In the future, Qatar Airways will operate its daily St Petersburg service with an Airbus A320 aircraft, which features 12 flatbed seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class.