Qatar Airways has further expanded its operations in Saudi Arabia with the launch of scheduled flights to Taif — the airline's sixth destination in the Kingdom.

Qatar Airways Flight 1206 arrived in Taif to a water salute, after which an airport ceremony was attended by local VIPs who welcomed the passengers and operating crew on board the flight.

A high level delegation from the airline’s headquarters in Doha was led by Fathi Al-Shehab, Qatar Airways’ SVP GCC, Levant, Iran and Indian Subcontinent. Al-Shehab was on board the inaugural flight and was met by Abdulbaset M. Al-Salafi, acting director domestic airport operations, and Abdul Rahman Al-Bathi, Taif Airport GM.

“Qatar Airways will continue exploring new opportunities in Saudi Arabia and providing it with new services that will boost its tourism sector,” Al-Shehab said, adding that Taif is a vital tourist and cultural center and a market rich with business opportunities, heritage and historic sites.”

Qatar Airways will operate four flights a week nonstop from Doha to Taif. The addition of this new Saudi city takes the total number of destinations within the airline's network to 132, providing the people of Taif and surrounding areas wider travel choices.

With the new four weekly flights, Qatar Airways now operates 69 flights a week to the Kingdom.

Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al-Baker said: “During the past few months we succeeded in launching two new destinations in Saudi Arabia — Qassim and now Taif, which reflects our commitment to reinforcing relations between the Qatar and the Kingdom.”