Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight from Doha to Medan has touched down at Kualanamu International Airport (KUL) on Monday, 15 January 2024, marking Medan the airline’s third destination in the Republic of Indonesia.

The new direct service will complement the award-winning airline’s over 40 weekly flights to Jakarta and Bali. His Excellency the Minister of State President of Qatar National Library Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari represented the State of Qatar at the inaugural event, which was organized by the award-winning airline in collaboration with the ‘Years of Culture’ to mark the successful completion of the Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture.

Qatar-Indonesia sought to deepen the understanding of Qatar as a hub for arts and culture, tourism, education, and sports while celebrating the unique aspects of Indonesian culture and building sustainable partnerships through more than 50 programs across both countries.

The new route to Medan solidifies the ties between both nations as the The Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture comes to a close. During the inaugural event, passengers were greeted with cupcakes and music at the departure gate of Hamad International Airport (DOH).

Onboard the inaugural flight, QR966 carried esteemed officials and were welcomed at Kualanamu International Airport by water cannon salute and high-ranking government officials and dignitaries.

The new direct service to Medan is operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which includes 22 Business Class seats and 232 Economy Class seats. Synonymous with excellence, the inaugural flight included a curarted Indonesian menu onboard, featuring dishes such as Nasi Goreng with Beef Satay and Nasi Lemak with Prawn Sambal in Business Class, and Beef Rendang in Economy Class, as well as exclusive inaugural cupcakes and various other giveaways at both the departure and arrival gates.

The city of Medan is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. As a thriving economic hub and commercial center of the region, Medan attracts business travellers, while offering leisure travellers a mosaic of cultural diversity, scenic beauty and a unique blend of flavors.