FIRST minister Carwyn Jones has welcomed the announcement long-haul flights to Qatar will be available from Cardiff Airport from next year.

Qatar Airways announced yesterday, Monday, the airline would begin running services to the country’s capital Doha from the airport, which was taken into public ownership in March 2013, in 2018.

Welcoming the news, Mr Jones said: “This new route, and the relationship between Cardiff Airport and Qatar Airways, will open-up Wales’ links with the rest of the world and deliver new economic, leisure and travel opportunities for Welsh businesses and the people of Wales.

“I look forward to meeting with the Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways in Doha on Sunday and I will also be meeting senior officials in Qatar to explore potential investment opportunities for Wales.”

The airport’s chief executive Deb Barber said she was “immensely proud” of the news.

“It has been a long journey to get to this stage, with discussions spanning a number of years,” she said.

“Over the coming months we will work with the team at Qatar Airways to confirm the details of the service.”