Flight Covered Over 7,800 Nautical Miles Over 17 Hours

It was a historic moment for Qatar Airways as it launched its new record-breaking Auckland service on one of the country’s most significant days of the year – Waitangi Day. As the first Qatar Airways flight touched down on the North Island of New Zealand, just after sunrise – a new chapter in the airline’s history began.

Celebrations to commemorate the launch of the world’s longest commercial flight, which takes 17 hours and 30 minutes and covers a distance of 7,848 nautical miles, began at the airport with a traditional water salute as the Qatar Airways Boeing 777 taxied down the runway.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker travelled on board the inaugural flight from Doha to Auckland and was welcomed by The Hon Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister of Trade and State Owned Enterprises; and Auckland Airport Chief Executive, Mr. Adrian Littlewood. “The launch of our new service to Auckland is an important milestone for Qatar Airways as we expand both in the region and globally across our network providing more options and better connections to exciting business and leisure destinations in Europe and the Middle East," said H.E. Mr. Al Baker.

“Welcoming Qatar Airways to New Zealand, through this direct service, is a significant event in the New Zealand Qatar relationship – opening up greater people to people and business to business connections between our two countries," said His Excellency Jeremy Clarke-Watson, New Zealand Ambassador to the State of Qatar. “We look forward to welcoming more Qatari and GCC nationals to New Zealand, taking advantage of New Zealand’s 90-day tourist visitor visa on arrival for GCC citizens. We also look forward to working with Qatar Airways and New Zealand exporters to maximise the potential of the direct service’s freight capacity, which opens up a whole new market for our exporters particularly in fresh food and beverage.”

(Images provided with Qatar Airways news release)

FMI: www.qatarairways.com/us/en