The first Qatar Airways non-stop flight from Doha to Skopje touched down earlier at Alexander the Great Airport.

The new route to the capital of the Republic of Macedonia will be served four times per week with an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class.

Skopje provides a gateway to a country of dramatic scenery, including beautiful lakes, mountains, and charming historic towns.

Visitors to Skopje can discover Ottoman-era neighbourhoods, shop in the old bazaar, or visit the lakeside city of Orchid and its picturesque castle.

Passengers who would like to experience the unique cultural and cosmopolitan mix of the city can book their tickets on the newly-designed Qatar Airways website or mobile application.

Qatar Airways chief commercial officer, Ehab Amin, who travelled on board the inaugural flight with Macedonian ambassador to Qatar, Vukica Krtolica Popovska, was greeted by Macedonia minister of transport and communications, Goran Sugareski.

Macedonia is a centre for metal-processing, chemical, timber, textile, leather and printing industries, and is ranked as one of the top ten economies in the world for doing business.

The launch of the award-winning airline’s new route to Skopje will help Macedonian businesspeople connect with their business partners in more than 150 destinations around the world.

The airline’s first ever-service to the Republic of Macedonia will also give leisure passengers easier access to Australia, where more than 200,000 Macedonian Australians live.

Qatar Airways is expediting its expansion in Eastern Europe, with service to Prague, Czech Republic and Kyiv, Ukraine set to commence by end of August.