In March 2022, Qatar Airways will expand its services to Nigeria with the inauguration of new routes to Kano (KAN) and Port Harcourt (PHC), both of which will operate out of Abuja, Nigeria.
From March 2, 2022, Qatar will fly four weekly flights to Kano and three weekly flights to Port Harcourt.
“The airline was one of the few to maintain operating to several African locations throughout the pandemic and, as limitations are lifted, is continue to grow its network on the continent,” Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said in a statement.
Following the news, the Doha-based carrier expects to increase its service to four destinations in Nigeria. Two daily flights to Lagos and four weekly flights to Abuja are included. By March 2022, Qatar will offer 188 weekly flights to 28 African locations.
According to Qatar Airways, the additional services to Kano and Port Harcourt are the airline’s sixth and eighth African gateways, respectively, since the outbreak began. The airline expects an increase in passenger and cargo traffic as a result of its plans to deploy its 787 Dreamliner aircraft on these additional routes.
We welcome Kano and Port Harcourt in Nigeria to our growing African network, with flights starting early March 2022, via Abuja to Doha and onwards to over 140 destinations. 🇳🇬 🌍 ✈️
Learn more: https://t.co/uOJ1365Hm2 pic.twitter.com/DbcwoPXlTZ
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) January 11, 2022
“We anticipate good reciprocal demand between Port Harcourt, UK, USA and destinations across Asia. For Kano we see the opportunity to grow traffic to and from markets such as KSA and India, as well as strong cargo prospects,” said the airline in the statement.
Al Baker added: “As home to the largest economy and population in the region, we see tremendous growth potential for travel and trade in Nigeria. It is a key market and an important part of our African growth strategy; the expansion of our presence across two new gateways is a testament to our continuous commitment to Nigeria. “