Daily direct flights from Hamburg to Doha: Qatar Airways opens new route

A new long-haul connection expands the Hamburg route network: Qatar Airways has launched its non-stop service between Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar and Hamburg Airport.

Hamburg is Qatar Airways' fifth destination in Germany alongside Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf, helping to meet the strong demand in this market. The world's best airline (Skytrax 2024) recorded a 62 per cent increase in departing passengers from Germany in 2023 compared to the previous year.

The new long-haul route complements the airline's network of more than 170 destinations worldwide, seamlessly connecting travellers from northern Germany to Doha and beyond. The metropolis of Hamburg is also even easier to reach for people from all over the world.

The route also supports economic and trade relations between northern Germany, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The new flights will bring additional belly capacity to Hamburg and enable growth in the airfreight sector at Hamburg Airport of up to 11 per cent compared to the previous year.

The first flight will be welcomed by Dr Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Mr Ali Al-Boainian, Charge de Affair of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Berlin, Mr Thierry Antinori, Chief Commercial Officer Qatar Airways, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO Visit Qatar, His Excellency Lothar Freischlader, German Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Christian Kunsch, CEO of Hamburg Airport, and Dr Malte Heyne, Managing Director of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Hamburg Airport is the oldest commercial airport in the world and the city is an important hub for global trade and business traffic.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: "Qatar Airways warmly welcomes the beautiful city of Hamburg as the latest destination in its extensive route network and the fifth gateway in Germany, a key market for the airline. As the bilateral relationship between Qatar and Germany continues to strengthen, we are delighted to add this route, which will further strengthen the important economic and trade ties between the two countries. With our centrally located hub in Doha, we are well positioned to facilitate exports from East to West and vice versa, and we look forward to seeing the growth of this route in the coming years from the best airport in the world and with the best airline in the world."

Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher: "Hamburg is an international city with centuries-old trade relations with all continents. Good flight connections via Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt are important for the economy, science and culture of the Hanseatic city. Qatar Airways is one of the best and most modern airlines and is now adding Hamburg to its network of over 170 destinations with daily flights to Doha. I would like to thank everyone involved in the co-operation between our airport and Qatar Airways and wish them every success with the new flight connections from Hamburg to the world."

Qatar Airways' Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said: "As the best airline in the world, we are always committed to offering our passengers the award-winning Qatar Airways service and in-flight product through Hamad International Airport, voted the best airport in the world and Airport Retail by Skytrax 2024, and our new route between Doha and Hamburg is a testament to this commitment. We are proud to offer our customers from Northern Germany one of the most modern and comfortable aircraft in the world to travel to some of their favourite destinations, be it for business or leisure."

Christian Kunsch, Chairman of the Executive Board, says: "We warmly welcome Qatar Airways to Hamburg Airport. As the largest commercial airport in northern Germany, our aim is to be well connected internationally. The new connection from Hamburg to Doha, one of the most important and fastest growing hubs, greatly increases connectivity between Hamburg and the world. Our passengers can now look forward to even more flexibility in their travel planning, while Hamburg continues to gain in importance as a business centre and travel destination."

The Chairman of the Board of Visit Qatar, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, said: "We at Visit Qatar are delighted to be part of another significant milestone for Qatar Airways and the thriving tourism sector in Qatar. This expansion will strengthen Qatar's global connectivity and emphasise our commitment to becoming a leading destination. The visitor experience in Qatar is characterised by exceptional service, diverse offerings and varied activities. By welcoming German visitors, we are promoting cultural exchange and enriching the tourism landscape."

Dr Malte Heyne, Managing Director of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, says: "As Germany's most important foreign trade location, international accessibility is a key location factor for Hamburg. The direct connection to the Doha hub strengthens this networking of Hamburg's economy.  Direct flight connections are an important factor for the attractiveness for investors and tourists as well as for the organisation of international congresses and events."