Birmingham: Qatar Airways News & Flight Discussion

[Ray Finkle]

Apparently BHX (if it ever happens) is down for the A330 displaced by a 787 elsewhere.

 

[Ray Finkle]

A poster on another forum.net is suggesting if/when BHX-DOH starts it will be a split schedule using the 787's. Four weekly flights are to depart DOH at 02:00 and three at 07:50.

A 2am departure from Qatar would arrive BHX early morning probably departing back around 9am. This would offer a connection with the South Asian countries India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc... Low yielding but would get seats filled initially, especially to the likes of ATQ.

An afternoon BHX departure connects with flights to the likes of Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Maldives, Shanghai, Perth, Melbourne, Tokyo, Jo'burg etc...

Still nothing solid but a possible timetable is a little more than we've already got but with the continuing issues with the 787 who knows if/when it will happen.

 

[Aviador]

I've not heard anything about the problems with the 787 being resolved. It must be costing the airlines a fortune. (I see Thomson's have pulled their Dreamliner ad from ITV since the type was taken out of service.)

 

[Ray Finkle]

Indeed and when it does get sorted it then just depends how far down the new destinations list BHX is.

(I see Thomson's have pulled their Dreamliner ad from ITV since the type was taken out of service.)

Didn't Thomson charge a premium for the 787 flights, £50 . per person I think it was? I guess it would have to be refunded which must stand to lose them a fortune.

 

[Hassaan]

Don't think it'll be a 787 - they'd use that on services which they've been doing for years like MAN.

 

[CL44]

If and when QR come into BHX they will look at what traffic is available and then decide what type of equipment would be placed on the route. If they decide that an A319 is big enough for the first six months then that is what would be scheduled. Airlines will not (normally) place an aircraft type on any route for prestige (there are obvious exceptions to this) but will base their decision on what aircraft will:
a) do the job,
and
b) make the best revenue possible.
Lets wait until QR firm up the route before discussing what equipment they will use.

 

[Hassaan]

It doesn't look to be happening any time soon - they originally 'announced' that they intend to serve BHX a little over a year ago, and still nothing.

 

[Ray Finkle]

They announced Helsinki the year before that an it still hasn't started.

There are still 787's coming through and I doubt BHX is top of the new routes list so don't expect anything before 2015 at the earliest.

 

[Hassaan]

As with many others, chances are QR may pop up next Spring for BHX's runway extension opening.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't see it happening now for a couple of years at least. Part of their plan was to mop up the BHX-India market and with AI now on the scene and ready to expand that's covered, there is also added competition to Pakistan with Air Blue offering cheap fares and with Emirates planning a third daily service at the end of next year I just can't see it. I'd be happy to be proved wrong though :smile:

 

[Hassaan]

They may well use it for Far East/Australia connections or whatever. Shame that it's not yet come to light though after they apparently confirmed it last year.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Like I've said before Helsinki was confirmed over two years ago complete with a joint QR-airport press conference and they're still waiting.

 

[thunderchild]

Qatar have finally announced their new UK destination.....Edinburgh! So much for BHX being next on the list. For the moment I think they've missed their chance; with AI and Airblue arriving and EK and TK on the up they probably saw EDI as a safer option.

 

[Aviador]

Once the runway extension opens the airport will be on a level playing field with the likes of Heathrow to the South and Manchester to the North. Hopefully Qatar will then reconsider BHX as a departure point.

 

[thunderchild]

Once the runway extension opens the airport will be on a level playing field with the likes of Heathrow to the South and Manchester to the North. Hopefully Qatar will then reconsider BHX as a departure point.

Hopefully, but at the end of the day DOH is within easy reach with the current tarmac.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Qatar have finally announced their new UK destination.....Edinburgh! So much for BHX being next on the list. For the moment I think they've missed their chance; with AI and Airblue arriving and EK and TK on the up they probably saw EDI as a safer option.

Qatar never said BHX was next on the list they said they will start flights to three UK destinations and Birmingham will be one of them.

Personally though I think you are right and have said on another thread that I think Turkish doing so well, Air India looking to expand and Emirates planning a third flight will put them off BHX for at least a couple of years.

 

[Hassaan]

Once the runway extension opens the airport will be on a level playing field with the likes of Heathrow to the South and Manchester to the North. Hopefully Qatar will then reconsider BHX as a departure point.

Hopefully, but at the end of the day DOH is within easy reach with the current tarmac.

I think their main aim was to capitalise on the India connections, which they won't really be able to do that well any more now that Air India are there. They could capitalise on the Far East connections but there you go.

They might re-consider BHX at a departure point, but not until 2015 at best.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Well when asked about BHX Qatar seem to have gone from 'we have no plans at the moment' to 'For our upcoming destinations, keep checking our Facebook page and our latest press releases at http://bit.ly/QR-news'.

A different version of a standard reply or does the lack of a denial now indicate something is there?

 

[thunderchild]

Out of interest what has triggered this latest bit of chatter regarding QR? What it that Wiki entry or something more concrete?

 

[Ray Finkle]

There has been an increasing amount of talk lately that BHX may finally be announced then someone who is apparently 'in the know' said it would be starting September with an A350. I think that comment may have spawned the Wiki article entry.

I'm not building up my hopes too much though as we've been here before but if it is to be a September start then I imagine we'll hear something soon.