Qatar Airways is resuming its service to Mykonos, Greece for the summer season as the islands are planning to welcome visitors once again.
Resuming service
The Doha-based carrier will resume flights to Mykonos on 14th May. The announcement comes soon after Greece’s Tourism Minister confirmed that the country would reopen to foreign travellers from 14th May. The airline will be flying 3-times-a-week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays to the Greek island using the 132-seater Airbus A320s.
Qatar Airways first started this seasonal route to Mykonos in June 2018, the first Middle Eastern carrier to do so.
Flight schedule:
- Doha-Mykonos
- Departure time: 07:30
- Arrival time: 12:05
- Flight time: 4 hours and 35 minutes
- Flight number: QR311
- Mykonos-Doha
- Departure time: 13:05
- Arrival time: 17:05
- Flight time: 4 hours
- Flight number: QR312
Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways, said:
We first started flying to Mykonos in May 2018 and the route proved very popular with our customers. Due to the global pandemic, we had to suspend services last summer so we are really delighted to be returning helping support Greece’s efforts to restart tourism. We know the authorities in Greece are taking precautions to ensure public safety and visitors will be required to adhere to public health measures put in place in view of the pandemic. Equally we will be maintaining our own very high standards. Qatar Airways was the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. We look forward to continuing to provide the safest possible experience for travellers across the world, and expanding upon our role in assisting the recovery of the commercial aviation industry.
Harry Theoharis, Tourism Minister, Greece, said:
I am proud to welcome Qatar Airways back to Mykonos. It is very pleasing for us to have our luxury destination included in the planning of the airline’s new summer programme. In this difficult time this development comes when all of our efforts have been put into the safe opening of Greek tourism. ‘All you want is Greece’ is our new motto and with this, we invite friends of Qatar Airways, from all over the world, to visit us.
Qatar Airways’ A320s
Qatar Airways’ A320 offers 132 seats in a two-class layout, with 12 in business class and 120 seats in economy. The cabins have been refurbished in recent years to include lie-flat seats in business class and a modern, 3-3 economy cabin. The carrier A320s have proven to be quite versatile and have been deployed on 6-7 hour long flights during low demand. One thing to note is that the business class seats on Qatar Airways’ A320s are lie-flat seats meaning full comfort.
Greece prepares to reopen
Heavily dependant on tourists, Greece has been optimistic about its tourism reopening this summer. The Greek tourism ministry has announced that they are planning to reopen the country’s border on 14th May,2021. All passengers above 2 years will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken 72 hours before the flight. Additionally, travelers will take a rapid test upon arrival in Greece to ensure they are not infected.
For many who have been vaccinated around the globe, restrictions will be a lot more relaxed. While details are yet to be announced, it is possible that vaccinated passengers (with proof) can skip the on-arrival rapid testing.
Qatar Airways is banking on connecting traffic from across Asia and the Middle East to see passenger numbers rise on the route.
Featured image by Mario Ferioli/Planespotters
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