Cardiff: Qatar Airways, will it return?

[geoff]

There has been considerable talk on the Birmingham thread regarding the return of services to Doha in 2022(possibly in March), I wonder if there is any possibility of CWL returning to Doha next year? There is an article in the Travel Trade Gazette stating that Qatar wants to triple its visitors to the country.

 

[Jerry]

There has been considerable talk on the Birmingham thread regarding the return of services to Doha in 2022(possibly in March), I wonder if there is any possibility of CWL returning to Doha next year? There is an article in the Travel Trade Gazette stating that Qatar wants to triple its visitors to the country.

I expect for Cardiff it might well depend on Australia and New Zealand opening and having no restrictions for travellers.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Qatar Airways might want to be firing on all cylinders again by this time next year when the FIFA World Cup begins there.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

2023 at the earliest for the Qatar the airport is reporting.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Interesting spot on the BHX forum. QR BHX-DOH on sale on google flights. Checked CWL-DOH and it is also on sale from 28th March with direct timings and prices. Although when selecting the site to actually book it's not bookable.
Something to keep an eye on. Have checked dates prior to 28th March and it doesn't come up at all.

 

[CM.]

Interesting spot on the BHX forum. QR BHX-DOH on sale on google flights. Checked CWL-DOH and it is also on sale from 28th March with direct timings and prices. Although when selecting the site to actually book it's not bookable.
Something to keep an eye on. Have checked dates prior to 28th March and it doesn't come up at all.

It’s apparently something to do with the British Airways Codeshare so changes are likely. According to a well known source.

 

[geoff]

It would be a great boost to have Qatar back at CWL, let's hope google are correct.

 

[Tinkerman]

Something to watch, but I would suspect this is some sort of booking system error. That doesn’t seem like a sufficient lead time for bookings for such a route, in addition to some sort of continued COVID uncertainty. I remain hopeful of some sort of return in the short-to-medium term though.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Something to watch, but I would suspect this is some sort of booking system error. That doesn’t seem like a sufficient lead time for bookings for such a route, in addition to some sort of continued COVID uncertainty. I remain hopeful of some sort of return in the short-to-medium term though.

Makes sense, but hopefully its something positive. Australia border is open for Australian national. I wonder if they are anticipating the border to open to foreign national in a few months time. Fingers crossed! I'm sure there's plenty of pent up travellers looking to make a trip in either direction after the borders being closed for so long.

 

[Jerry]

That would be very surprising! But a welcome surprise!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Australia is to admit vaccinated tourists and business travellers from 21 February. With Emirates having re-opened their services from their UK airports to a greater or lesser degree in recent months and Qatar already serving the UK's larger airports there could yet be a chance to see Qatar resume at CWL later this summer.

 

[Jerry]

Australia is to admit vaccinated tourists and business travellers from 21 February. With Emirates having re-opened their services from their UK airports to a greater or lesser degree in recent months and Qatar already serving the UK's larger airports there could yet be a chance to see Qatar resume at CWL later this summer.

That would be a big boost for the airport not just passenger wise but pr wise as well.

 

[IanFarquharson]

I understand that Qatar are unlikely to be returning to CWL in 2021 - reliable source 🙂

 

[CWL94]

I understand that Qatar are unlikely to be returning to CWL in 2021 - reliable source 🙂

What does your source say regarding 2022 though? Or are we looking at S23 at the earliest?

 

[MrFenner]

I understand that Qatar are unlikely to be returning to CWL in 2021 - reliable source 🙂

Unless they can turn back time, that would be quite the miracle!



(of course I know its a typo)

 

[Jerry]

Although it would be fantastic to see them return in 2022 I'd be very surprised if they did even if Wales qualified for the Football World Cup.
Also would have to question whether the current administration in Cardiff Bay would firstly welcome them back and secondly be willing to renew the previous deal that was in place between Qatar Airways and the Welsh government. Of course we also don't know how big a factor that deal or something similar would be in Qatar Airways return.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Unless they can turn back time, that would be quite the miracle!



(of course I know its a typo)

Sorry 2022 🙂

 

[Jerry]

In this interview Spencer Birns is hopeful Qatar Airways will return but doesn't expect it to be until 2024 https://t.co/UJYwQD2OYO

 

[geoff]

If Wales qualified for the World cup, I wonder if they would be prepared to put on a few special flights, while the tournament was taking place. Although Spencer Birns pointed out in the article, the difficulties Qatar were having with aircraft at present, regarding orders cancelled with Airbus, which might make it difficult for them to put on any extra flights

 

[Jerry]

If Wales qualified for the World cup, I wonder if they would be prepared to put on a few special flights, while the tournament was taking place. Although Spencer Birns pointed out in the article, the difficulties Qatar were having with aircraft at present, regarding orders cancelled with Airbus, which might make it difficult for them to put on any extra flights

I can't see it happening, I'd expect that they'd want the fans to fly from London.