cnq77f

Jan 05 2009

Qatar Airways new routes 2008?

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  • Where are the rumours/news about new QR routes?

    Mauritius should come very soon: According to this article (in French) (http://www.lexpress.mu/display_search_result.php?news_id=88632) from June 2007, they were already recruiting at that time. They had been negotiating for traffic rights since 2006.


  • I'd be very happy if they can just fly to CPT nonstop, or at least a daily service to JNB/CPT, as well as some major European cities like FRA.

    QR also is inconsistent with some of their flight timings in that some days they depart at this time (eg SIN), and some days its this time.


  • While looking up KUL-DPS flights, I noticed that Qatar now also serves this route. I don't remember seeing them fly this before - is this a new route for them?


  • I never knew Qatar Airways operated/reserved flights for royal personnel. I know Saudia does. Doesn't the Qatari Royal family have its own fleet?


  • AFAIK EK does not fly to AMS because it uses all of its slots for (more profitable) cargo.

    I would prefer to see QR fly to markets that EK/EY/GF have not already tapped - maybe OSL,CPH,AMS,BRU,EDI etc. I am not sure how many A319LRs QR has but they seem to be an appropriate aircraft for such routes + they come with a full-fledged long haul business class product.

    Cheers,

    Narrowbodies in a long haul config don't accomodate that many pax... They need to be relatively thin/high yield routes that will make the risk worthwhile. Ideally, QR A332s should be used, not A319LRs in my opinion.

    Totally agree that QR should explore different markets. Edinburgh would be an excellent move!


  • It says it will operate 3 times weekly until November when it goes daily. B777-200LRs. Will these be 2 class like the B77Ws?

    I hope it's an overnight from Doha...

    It is indeed :)

    QR 77 DOH 01:20 IAH 09:15 77L 0 1234567 16:55 -
    QR 78 IAH 12:15 DOH 12:10 +1 77L 0 1234567 14:55
    Cheers,


  • Qatar Airways is a good airline that is easily one of the 'majors' in the world now. Although it flies to several destinations not served by Emirates (e.g. Berlin, Luxor, Newark, Washington, Dar es Salam, Guanghzou, Seoul, Najpur, Katmandhu, Denpasar, Cebu, Ho Chi Min City, Mashad, Madrid) it flies to a secondary airport in North America, flying to Newark not Newark. Also lack of Australasian services in comparison to Emirates.


    It flies to places that people want to go to.. and it's website is one of the easiest around in buying tickets.!

    Australia? Soon... when it gets proper aircraft...

    So go with EK. QR's service is sooo much better than EK IMO, but what would I know? I'm only a Silver Q member! :p


  • Melbourne not this year, but Houston to start in 2008:

    Non-availability of long-range aircraft for the time being means that Qatar Airways' plans to fly to Australia will have to wait, at least until next year.

    The airline will, however, be definitely flying to Houston from later this year and will be concentrating on its North American routes. The airline is not in a hurry to start operating to Melbourne in Australia and in fact there has been no official announcement the route will be started up. However, Qatar Airways has received the nod from the Australian authorities to operate daily flights to Melbourne.



    More: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=January2008&file=Local_News2008010942559.xml


  • Amsterdam would be a great option no competition from other Gulf carriers there, by the way does anybody know why Emirates still doesn't serve Amsterdam. Sydney would be great too, as it's getting harder and harder to get a seat even in the low and shoulder season.


  • Australia would be nice. SYD, MEL, BNE, PER & AKL for the Kiwis. Tokyo? Los Angleles? Toronto?

    need more aircraft


  • Tokyo (NRT) would make a good addition. Neither EY or EK fly there, and there is no direct air link between Tokyo and the Gulf. I see high load factors straight away.

    Totally agree with you. There is a reason why EK or EY don't fly to Tokyo. Slots. Tokyo is perhaps one of the highest sought after destinations in the world. EK have already sidelined a set of A380s for NRT flights & they don't even fly there. Japan performs very well for EK. NRT would work even if EK, QR & EY all starting flights there. & then there's the cargo potential...

    Yes, but most of those destinations aren't really 'major' cities, as opposed to QR missing out on key regional gateways that EK serves. QR should concentrate on building a nice Australasian network (and who knows, maybe a service to some Oceanian island in the Pacific) and it would be able to fully compete with EK.

    What's the point in competing when you can carve out a more profitable market which has a bonus of no competitors. Yes, there are many merits of links down under, but the competition is huge. On the Kangaroo route, it's not just EK they'd have to deal with. Traditionally, the Asian carriers are the primary dealers on these flights, SQ in particular. BA/Qantas are big too. I'm sure it's in the pipeline but it's all about timing.


  • Does anyone know what the Qatar-Canada air bilateral is? If it is more leniant than the UAE-Canada one, perhaps QR can start a daily to Toronto. Not only would this anger EK (which makes me happy :p) but I'm sure QR could offer better connections to destinations such as DAC and KHI via Doha than EK does presently.

    Cheers,

    I can see how that would anger EK!!:D This would be a great route for the high-density B77W. Emirates are apparently wanting to switch the current B777 for a high-density B777-300ER to meet demand.

    http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=788560

    The new Stockholm-route is interesting. Very good biz-classprices ^

    What about Copenhagen, Oslo? (norwegians are rich..)

    Another move that flanks Emirates.

    exactly how rich are the norwegians?


  • QR already does MEL[...].

    QR was cleared last year to start daily service to MEL. But has it really begun to fly the route?

    URL: http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/mv/releases/2007/March/044MV_2007.htm


  • I'd be happy if QR does CPT direct without the JNB stop.

    EK is bound to steal a huge chunk of QR's traffic away with their daily flights to both cities individually.


  • The new Stockholm-route is interesting. Very good biz-classprices ^

    What about Copenhagen, Oslo? (norwegians are rich..)


  • Mauritius would be a nice addition indeed, but in other respects I would appreciate if they would find the time to improve their lousy ground service and punctuality instead of expanding, expanding, expanding.......


  • Yes, but most of those destinations aren't really 'major' cities, as opposed to QR missing out on key regional gateways that EK serves. QR should concentrate on building a nice Australasian network (and who knows, maybe a service to some Oceanian island in the Pacific) and it would be able to fully compete with EK.


  • Good. More competition to European carriers and Emirates for connecting traffic to India and SE Asia. This is great news for me, since I travel often to HYD and BOM from IAH.


  • Finally they announced a date.

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5594973.html

    service to start Nov 10th


  • I was passing through ORD yesterday and saw a Qatar A340 taxi out and taking off. Anyone know why it was there?

    Perhaps this was the plane carrying Sheikha Mozah, Consort of the Emir of Qatar, who visited Chicago and Northwestern University on Wednesday and Thursday.


  • ...it flies to several destinations not served by Emirates (e.g. Berlin, Luxor, Newark, Washington, Dar es Salam, Guanghzou, Seoul, Najpur, Katmandhu, Denpasar, Cebu, Ho Chi Min City, Mashad, Madrid)...

    EK flies to DAR & ICN :)


  • ...and who knows, maybe a service to some Oceanian island in the Pacific....


    On November 16, when I arrived in French Polynesia, I saw 2 QR Aircraft in Papeete. 1 A319 and 1 A330.

    So it seems as they are already "exploring" something.


  • I agree, but QR is still quite a small airline compared to EK. It has 0 connecting traffic to Australia via Doha, and not that many frequencies to other destinations. IMHO CPH, OSL etc. would be thin high yield routes. Just as EK starts new destinations with 3-class A330-200s, I think QR should start with A319LRs to see if the demand is there. AFAIK QR is using an A319LR to ARN (though I may be wrong.)

    Cheers,

    I feel that the A319LR being so small (110 seats 8J/102Y) why bother? However, such aircraft would be excellent for seeking out tiny niche markets. I think places such as CPH/ARN/OSL are big enough for widebodies...
    But somewhere like Kristiansand or Bergen or Aberdeen would be purrfect for the A319LR. Niche market - oil - v. lucrative...

    http://qatarairways.com/global/en/seating-plan.html

    Emirates seat 237 in their 3 class A330-200s & 278 in 2 classes.

    http://emirates.com/uk/english/flying/our_fleet/airbus_A330_200.aspx


  • Apparently QA will be flying to GIG very soon, still in 2008. This information was posted on a major Brazilian newspaper around 3 weeks ago. I do know about the extra EK flight to GRU which will probably start in july, however I have not heard anything about a DXB-GIG route. This would be a great opportunity for EK to gain business in Latin America, considering that the Rio de Janeiro state, where GIG is located is a major oil exploring and business destination. A good hub for those trying to reach the city and the region.

    Emirates have an interest in a DXB-GIG service with possible extension onwards to EZE. Flights rumoured to be operated by A340-500. However, these are all tied up in Oz so no such flights will occur until Feb 2009 at the earliest when A380s begin flying the SYD-AKL route.


  • Qatar Airways is a good airline that is easily one of the 'majors' in the world now. Although it flies to several destinations not served by Emirates (e.g. Berlin, Luxor, Newark, Washington, Dar es Salam, Guanghzou, Seoul, Najpur, Katmandhu, Denpasar, Cebu, Ho Chi Min City, Mashad, Madrid) it flies to a secondary airport in North America, flying to Newark not New York-JFK (edited from Newark, sorry my mistake). Also lack of Australasian services in comparison to Emirates.


  • On November 16, when I arrived in French Polynesia, I saw 2 QR Aircraft in Papeete. 1 A319 and 1 A330.

    So it seems as they are already "exploring" something.

    You might have seen the private taxi service of Qatar's sheikhs, all come in full QR commercial colours:

    Qatar Amiri Flight's A319CJ: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Qatar_Airways_(Qatar_Amiri_Flight)/Airbus_A319-133X_CJ/1206093/medium/
    (I have seen it in PMI a few years ago)

    and A330-200:
    http://www.airliners.net/photo/Qatar_Airways_(Qatar_Amiri_Flight)/Airbus_A330-203/1235069/medium/


  • Thanks for the clarification.

    Yes, one of the planes was the A7-HJJ, which belongs to Qatar Amiri. So it must have been a visit of one of the sheikhs.


  • Qatar Airways is a good airline that is easily one of the 'majors' in the world now. Although it flies to several destinations not served by Emirates (e.g. Berlin, Luxor, Newark, Washington, Dar es Salam, Guanghzou, Seoul, Najpur, Katmandhu, Denpasar, Cebu, Ho Chi Min City, Mashad, Madrid) it flies to a secondary airport in North America, flying to Newark not Newark. Also lack of Australasian services in comparison to Emirates.

    Thanks for the mix of fact and value judgement.


  • ... it flies to a secondary airport in North America, flying to Newark not Newark...

    What ??


  • Finally they announced a date.

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5594973.html

    service to start Nov 10th

    Good. More competition to European carriers and Emirates for connecting traffic to India and SE Asia. This is great news for me, since I travel often to HYD and BOM from IAH.

    It says it will operate 3 times weekly until November when it goes daily. B777-200LRs. Will these be 2 class like the B77Ws?

    I hope it's an overnight from Doha...


  • Amsterdam would be a great addition to either QR or EK (I do not consider EY to have the fully developed network). In fact, it would be like connecting a tube to an oil pipeline, in a way. The airline would then be tapping into a lucrative passenger market, and taking away, bit by bit, KLM's long-haul sectors. I see this starting daily sometime in 2009 then going double daily by the end of the year.


  • Tokyo (NRT) would make a good addition. Neither EY or EK fly there, and there is no direct air link between Tokyo and the Gulf. I see high load factors straight away.


  • I can see how that would anger EK!!:D This would be a great route for the high-density B77W. Emirates are apparently wanting to switch the current B777 for a high-density B777-300ER to meet demand.

    http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=788560



    Another move that flanks Emirates.

    exactly how rich are the norwegians?

    Even a little bit more than Swiss people on a general trend ... (I'm Swiss but living in the UK , so can't pretend anymore ... LOL)


  • Even a little bit more than Swiss people on a general trend ... (I'm Swiss but living in the UK , so can't pretend anymore ... LOL)

    There is a clear lack of services to Scandanavia and the Benelux from EK, EY, GF and QR. Amsterdam and Sweden neet to be capitalized on. I get why EK would be a bit miffed at QR getting to Stockholm first-its a key market in Europe.
    Norwegians are supposed to be very rich, think of all those smoked salmon exports. ..

    So the Norwegians are rich, therefore perfect for the Middle East. I'd imagine it would be quite a small but high yield market unless I'm mistaken, the Norwegian population is relatively small & spread out. Perhaps a daily 3 class A330-200 or even an A340-500 if they ask for Suites...:D

    I would also say that oil exports complement the salmon very nicely...

    AMS is being discussed on the Emirates forum. I beleive bilateral issues are in the way (the Dutch don't want EY/EK cannibalising KLM etc. - KLM fly double daily B777s to DXB). I also beleive that it is a low-yield destination. Scandanavai seems to be the major area that isn't covered looking at most Middle Eastern airlines route maps.

    I beleive Brussels is an excellent market to capitalise on given the connections to Africa, America & India as well as the demand from the Belgium capital itself.


  • I was passing through ORD yesterday and saw a Qatar A340 taxi out and taking off. Anyone know why it was there?


  • Narrowbodies in a long haul config don't accomodate that many pax... They need to be relatively thin/high yield routes that will make the risk worthwhile. Ideally, QR A332s should be used, not A319LRs in my opinion.


    I agree, but QR is still quite a small airline compared to EK. It has 0 connecting traffic to Australia via Doha, and not that many frequencies to other destinations. IMHO CPH, OSL etc. would be thin high yield routes. Just as EK starts new destinations with 3-class A330-200s, I think QR should start with A319LRs to see if the demand is there. AFAIK QR is using an A319LR to ARN (though I may be wrong.)

    Cheers,


  • QR already does MEL

    SYD would be nice but SYD is pretty hard to find slots - at a time that works.


  • AFAIK EK does not fly to AMS because it uses all of its slots for (more profitable) cargo.

    I would prefer to see QR fly to markets that EK/EY/GF have not already tapped - maybe OSL,CPH,AMS,BRU,EDI etc. I am not sure how many A319LRs QR has but they seem to be an appropriate aircraft for such routes + they come with a full-fledged long haul business class product.

    Cheers,


  • Apparently QA will be flying to GIG very soon, still in 2008. This information was posted on a major Brazilian newspaper around 3 weeks ago. I do know about the extra EK flight to GRU which will probably start in july, however I have not heard anything about a DXB-GIG route. This would be a great opportunity for EK to gain business in Latin America, considering that the Rio de Janeiro state, where GIG is located is a major oil exploring and business destination. A good hub for those trying to reach the city and the region.


  • New destination: Guangzhou (CAN)


    Beginning March 31, Doha-based Qatar Airways will become the first airline from the Gulf to serve Guangzhou. It will operate four flights-a-week non-stop using an Airbus A330 aircraft in a two-class configuration of up to 24 seats in Business Class and a maximum 248 in Economy.

    The addition of Guangzhou strengthens Qatar Airways' China network, where it already flies to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong with a total of 16 flights a week. Guangzhou takes the airline's capacity into China up to 20 flights a week. From May 1, Qatar Airways adds a fifth weekly service to Guangzhou.


    More: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_pressreleases&view=detail&pr_id=11167&Itemid=77&ln=en


  • There is a clear lack of services to Scandanavia and the Benelux from EK, EY, GF and QR. Amsterdam and Sweden neet to be capitalized on. I get why EK would be a bit miffed at QR getting to Stockholm first-its a key market in Europe.
    Norwegians are supposed to be very rich, think of all those smoked salmon exports. ..


  • Does anyone know what the Qatar-Canada air bilateral is? If it is more leniant than the UAE-Canada one, perhaps QR can start a daily to Toronto. Not only would this anger EK (which makes me happy :p) but I'm sure QR could offer better connections to destinations such as DAC and KHI via Doha than EK does presently.

    Cheers,


  • What about Brazil? QR built a team and bought its own premises in Sao Paulo, where it now has a dedicated office.

    EK, however, was quicker and introduced DXB-GRU nonstop B772LR 6 weekly to be upgraded next June to daily operations. Loads of EK to GRU are about 90% making it a destination of high loads and yields. Some days of the week EK deploys the B77W to GRU. EK is now planning to open DXB-GIG, DXB-EZE or DXB-GIG-EZE 3/4 weekly.

    It seems GRU or GIG is a major missing destination in QR network.

    Amsterdam would be a great addition to either QR or EK (I do not consider EY to have the fully developed network). In fact, it would be like connecting a tube to an oil pipeline, in a way. The airline would then be tapping into a lucrative passenger market, and taking away, bit by bit, KLM's long-haul sectors. I see this starting daily sometime in 2009 then going double daily by the end of the year.

    Agree 100%. AMS is not low yields. KLM has an extensive network in the Gulf. In addition, dont forget that AMS is the HQ of Shell. A lot of KLM long-haul traffic is feeded with traffic originating from the Gulf. AMS is a major missing link in QR and EK network.

    Rgs,


  • Totally agree with you. There is a reason why EK or EY don't fly to Tokyo. Slots. Tokyo is perhaps one of the highest sought after destinations in the world. EK have already sidelined a set of A380s for NRT flights & they don't even fly there. Japan performs very well for EK. NRT would work even if EK, QR & EY all starting flights there. & then there's the cargo potential...



    What's the point in competing when you can carve out a more profitable market which has a bonus of no competitors. Yes, there are many merits of links down under, but the competition is huge. On the Kangaroo route, it's not just EK they'd have to deal with. Traditionally, the Asian carriers are the primary dealers on these flights, SQ in particular. BA/Qantas are big too. I'm sure it's in the pipeline but it's all about timing.


    Well at one point QR was on par with EK but soon the latter ecliped most other carriers.


  • With the opening of new Bangalore airport soon, is QR planning to fly to there as well ? Any info would be appreciated ! What about Etihad ?
    Thanks a lot !


  • Amsterdam would be a great option no competition from other Gulf carriers there, by the way does anybody know why Emirates still doesn't serve Amsterdam. Sydney would be great too, as it's getting harder and harder to get a seat even in the low and shoulder season.

    The Dutch don't want to open themselves up to foreign carriers because EK will cannibalise the market. That said, KLM are currently flying double daily B777s & are to place their new 10 abreast B777-300ERs on the Dubai runs. I don't know why QR don't do Amsterdam. It could be to do with yields. AMS is a very low yield destination with lots of competition.

    Sydney (& Australia as a whole) would be a good market to enter. The question is...how? Do they put a B77W on it aiming for the backpack traveller or something to the tune of an A340 with all the bells & whistles?


  • On November 16, when I arrived in French Polynesia, I saw 2 QR Aircraft in Papeete. 1 A319 and 1 A330.

    So it seems as they are already "exploring" something.

    Probably it was a charter for a sheikh and his entourage (no, one A330 is absolutely not enough!). In July/August, you can sometimes see 3-4 QR aircrafts in Nice, sitting on the tarmac for weeks. I doubt they will add PPT or NCE as a destination soon.







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