Dubai: Qatar Airways on Monday launched  its newest international route with direct non-stop scheduled services linking Doha with the southern Indian coastal city of Kozhikode in the state of Kerala.

The inaugural flight landed at Kozhikode International Airport this morning following the overnight journey from the Qatari capital.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker led a delegation of high-profile international media from Europe and the Gulf on the maiden flight.

Local political, business and airport officials were on hand to receive the first flight, an Airbus A320, which was full to capacity.

The new route takes Qatar Airways' capacity to India up to 58 flights a week spread across nine cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, Cochin and Nagpur.