International Superstar Gloria Estefan Performs During the Qatar Airways Miami Gala Celebrating the New Service Between Doha and Miami (Qatar Airways)
Qatar Airways celebrated their arrival into Miami International Airport (MIA) this week—the first direct route between the city and the Middle East—with a press conference and gala event that highlighted both the airline’s five-star service and the vibrant culture of the Magic City.
The gala dinner, which the airline hosted at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, was in true Miami form, bridging the cultures and traditions of Miami and Doha into one magnificent night where guests experienced true Arabian hospitality and the personal touch that the airline is so well known for.
During his speech, Mr. Al Baker noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the first commercial flight—a 23-minute trip over the bay from St. Petersburg to Tampa. “The aircraft had a single passenger seat, a wooden crate tucked behind the pilot, and a maximum altitude of 15 feet, even over open water. Needless to say, there was no beverage service,” he joked.
Mr. Al Baker also continued to tout his affection for Miami and emphasized the similarities between it and Doha. “We both hail from modern, cosmopolitan cities, with progressive appetites for art, architecture and exquisite cuisine,” he said. “And those beautiful beaches aren’t so bad, either.”
The evening concluded with the airline raffling off a pair of tickets to anywhere in the Qatar Airways network aboard their World’s Best Business Class, and a performance by Miami’s own 7-time Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Estefan, which drew a rousing ovation from the attendees.
Miami marks Qatar Airways’ 6th U.S. and 142nd destination worldwide. The route is being operated with a Boeing 777-200 in a two-class configuration of 42 seats in Business and 217 seats in Economy. The aircraft offers seatback TV screens providing passengers with the next generation interactive onboard entertainment system and a choice of more than 1,000 audio and video options.
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 131 aircraft to more than 140 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas.
Qatar Airways is set to launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes during the coming months, including Tokyo-Haneda, Japan (June 18), Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1) and Djibouti (July 27).
The DOHA — MIAMI Schedule
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
QR777 Departs DOH 08:40 hrs Arrives MIA 17:20 hrs Travel time: 15:40
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
QR778 Departs MIA 21:15 hrs Arrives DOH 18:20 hrs +1 day Travel time: 14:20