PENANG will be connected to over 150 destinations around the world via Doha come February when Qatar Airways begins direct flights to the state.

The inaugural seven-hour flight is on February 6.

Qatar Airways Southeast Asia vice-president Jared Lee said the new direct flight between Doha and Penang will connect the state with Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.

“It will connect Penang to a network of 44 cities in Europe. The top inbound European visitors to Penang are from the UK.

“Since we announced the direct flight to Penang from Doha, we have received bookings from countries like Austria and Hungary,” he told a press conference at Komtar today.

Qatar Airways will fly thrice weekly to Penang with its state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which offer 22 seats in business class and 232 seats in economy.

Lee said Qatar Airways, the fastest growing airline in the world, will also unveil 25 new destinations next year.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Doha would be the first direct long-haul destination out of Penang towards the west.

“Penang can now welcome more international visitors, like those from the Middle East, which is an important market.

“This also gives travellers from Penang more global connectivity as they can fly to Europe or the Middle East without having to transit in Kuala Lumpur or Thailand,” he said.

Lim said this was also good news for Penang’s medical tourism industry and its aim to establish itself as a Muslim hub.

He also said it was going to be the first time a Dreamliner aircraft was flying to Penang.

He expressed hope the airline would eventually offer daily flights to Penang.

Qatar Airways first launched its service to Malaysia in December 2001. It flies three times daily to Kuala Lumpur. – November 1, 2017.