Qatar Airways has welcome Air Canada’s inaugural flight from Toronto to Doha.

The arrival establishes Hamad International as the only airport in the Middle East to be operated with a scheduled service by a North American carrier.

The flight was welcomed with a water cannon salute at Hamad International Airport and a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Stefanie McCollum, ambassador of Canada to Qatar.

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, was also on hand, alongside Hamad International Airport chief operating officer, Badr Mohammed Al Meer.