Qatar Air lands first direct U-tapao flight

Qatar Airways inaugurated its first Pattaya flight, arriving at U-tapao airport on Monday. Pattaya marks the airline's fifth destination in Thailand and the first new route launch this year as the airline continues the rapid expansion of its global route network. "We are delighted to be the first Middle East airline to offer direct flights to Pattaya. Having also launched flights to Chiang Mai just last month and soon offering our sixth-daily flight to Bangkok, this new route reinforces the strong ties between Qatar and Thailand," said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways group CE. "U-tapao airport is a cornerstone of the Eastern Economic Corridor the Thai government is aggressively developing. These new direct flights will open up further seamless air connectivity for tourists and business visitors looking to visit Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard, boosting our tourism industry and also aiding in the development of foreign investments into U-tapao and Pattaya," said Rear Adm Luechai Sri-Eamgool, director of U-tapao Airport Authority.<br/>