Qatar Airways Just Became the First Gulf Carrier to Fly to Venezuela

Qatar Airways has opened a new door to South America. The airline has launched a twice-weekly Doha–Bogotá–Caracas–Doha service, operating on Wednesdays and Sundays with Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, and it is the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela.

With the new route, Qatar Airways’ Americas network reaches 17 destinations. The Bogotá leg gives Colombia a link to Doha, while Caracas adds a market that has had few connections to the Gulf. The airline announced the launch on November 5.

The announcement comes with a widened partnership with LATAM. The two carriers have expanded their cooperation to include codeshares on LATAM Colombia’s domestic routes, covering 17 destinations. That gives passengers arriving in Bogotá more onward options within Colombia on a single ticket.

For travelers in the region, the practical effect is more ways to reach Doha and the networks beyond it in Asia, Africa and Australia without routing through Europe or the United States. Frequency is limited to two flights a week, so planning around the Wednesday and Sunday schedule will matter, and travelers should check requirements for entry to each country before booking.

Sources: Aviation Week