Qatar Airways has launched a new service between Doha and Langkawi in Malaysia via Penang starting October 15.
The airline now flies this route four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Below is the flight schedule from October 15 to 26 this year:
| Flight No. | Departs | Time | Stopover | Time | Arrives |
| QR866 | Doha (DOH) |
0225-1500 | Penang (PEN) |
1625-1705 | Langkawi (LGK) |
| QR867 | Langkawi (LGK) |
1900-1940 | Penang (PEN) |
2100-2345 | Doha (DOH) |
From October 27, the airline will add a fifth weekly service on Fridays. Below is the revised flight schedule:
| Flight No. | Departs | Time | Stopover | Time | Arrives |
| QR866 | Doha (DOH) |
0210-1420 | Penang (PEN) |
1530-1620 | Langkawi (LGK) |
| QR867 | Langkawi (LGK) |
1840-1940 | Penang (PEN) |
2035-2325 | Doha (DOH) |
The new service will be operated by the airline’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which features 22 seats in business class laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration and 232 in economy class in a 3-3-3 configuration. Passengers flying to Langkawi will also have access to Oryx One, the airline’s in-flight entertainment system.
Business Traveller’s editorial director Tom Otley reviewed the airline’s Boeing 787-8 business class last year.
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group chief executive, said: “Langkawi marks the eighth new destination added to Qatar Airways’ rapidly expanding network in 2019. With its forested hills, stunning white-sand beaches and glimmering turquoise waters, Langkawi is fast becoming one of South East Asia’s most highly sought-after destinations and the reason why we knew we had to launch our flights here.
“Beginning with a four-times-weekly service that will grow to five-times-weekly from 27 October 2019, we look forward to welcoming business and leisure travellers alike on board so that they may experience the ‘Jewel of Kedah’.”
Also commenting on the new service, Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, chief operating officer of Malaysia Airports, said: “I would like to welcome Qatar Airways to Langkawi International Airport, the first Middle Eastern airline to fly to this beautiful island. The inclusion of a new international airline to Langkawi will definitely spur our Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign by increasing the number of tourists into Langkawi.”
Langkawi is a district and an archipelago located in the Andaman Sea to northwest of the mainland coast of Malaysia. It has been a duty-free island since 1987 and is now a popular leisure destination in Malaysia.
In addition to Qatar Airways, there are several other airlines operating non-stop international flights to Langkawi, including Air Asia (from Singapore), Scoot (from Singapore) and China Southern Airlines (from Guangzhou). This year, Langkawi International Airport got a new Plaza Premium lounge.
This month, Qatar Airways customers travelling on long-haul flights in first class and business class can get limited edition pink themed amenity kits in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The airline has also announced that members of its Platinum Privilege Club will now get access to the Al Safwa First Class Lounge at Hamad International Airport when they travel in business class.
