Quote: Bahrain Air, which is to commence operations from the first of next month, will be offering two flights daily between here and Manama. ... At the outset, the airline will fly to 12 destinations using Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft which have been taken on dry lease. The initial number of three aircraft is expected to rise to seven by 2010

This will take the total number of daily flights between DOH and BAH to be 14 or 15 daily flights using a number of carriers notably (QR, GF, UL, BA, IA, and now Bahrain Air) plus some other misc. carriers.  

Its only a 15-17 minute flight--not bad. There are lots of family connections and business, trade connections between Qatar and Bahrain, so it will be profitable.  

[Edited 2008-01-10 17:34:51]

Wow it's really hard to imagine that there is sufficient traffic BAH-DOH to justify all these flights. Good luck to Air Bahrain.

YOWza

They also would operate to Alexandria, Beirut, Dubai and Mashad.

How long is it by road?

Thats alot of flights. Whats the pricing like?

It will be really many flights. Wonder if all carriers will survive on this route???

Quoting Ag92 (Reply 3): How long is it by road?

By air it is only 120 or so Kilometers, but by road, you have to pass through Saudi Arabia and take a detour which takes usually 500 or so kilometers of bad roads!

Quoting Ag92 (Reply 3): Thats alot of flights. Whats the pricing like?

The price used to be cheap, less than $100 for a ticket, but now-a-days they charge you for the trechorous"fuel surcharge" and now the price is higher.

Quoting B747forever (Reply 4): It will be really many flights. Wonder if all carriers will survive on this route???

There is increasingly huge demand for these flights.

Qatar is building a 40 km causeway over the Arabian Gulf from Qatar to Bahrain which will decrease travel time drastically and is due to open in 2011. I wonder if flights would be affected. I would certainly choose the road rather than plane.

Quoting QatarA340 (Reply 5): Quoting Ag92 (Reply 3): How long is it by road? By air it is only 120 or so Kilometers, but by road, you have to pass through Saudi Arabia and take a detour which takes usually 500 or so kilometers of bad roads!

And if you don't have an Arab Passport you need a Saudi Visa for you and your car. For most people that is a massive undertaking.

IA flies the route? Surely that must be a mistake...

Quoting TristarSteve (Reply 6): And if you don't have an Arab Passport you need a Saudi Visa for you and your car. For most people that is a massive undertaking.

Make that if you don't have a GCC passport you need a Saudi Visa for you and your car.

Quoting Airxliban (Reply 7): Make that if you don't have a GCC passport you need a Saudi Visa for you and your car.

True, but lets not forget that Saudi isnt exactly the most user-friendly country.

What about a ferry?
The distance between Qatar and Bahrein is only 35km at the narrowest point.
If there is so much traffic, I would have thought that ferry could be very economical and efficent.
pZZ

Quoting Pzurita1 (Reply 9): What about a ferry? The distance between Qatar and Bahrein is only 35km at the narrowest point. If there is so much traffic, I would have thought that ferry could be very economical and efficent.

There are non at the time being, I always wondered too.

If P&O are watching, somewhere to move the old Dover - Calais boats after they are getting on a bit.

Quoting QatarA340 (Reply 5): Qatar is building a 40 km causeway over the Arabian Gulf from Qatar to Bahrain which will decrease travel time drastically and is due to open in 2011. I wonder if flights would be affected. I would certainly choose the road rather than plane.

Just a minor correction, it is internationally recognized as Persian Gulf, not Arabian Gulf  

Quoting Airxliban (Reply 7): IA flies the route? Surely that must be a mistake...

IC does fly between the two but as stops on a flight originating from India. I don't think they have the rights to fly pax from DOH-BAH or vice-versa.

Quoting B727fan (Reply 12): Just a minor correction, it is internationally recognized as Persian Gulf, not Arabian Gulf Wink

Sensitive topic. All Arabs call it the Arabian Gulf.

Cheers  

Quoting Pzurita1 (Reply 9): If there is so much traffic, I would have thought that ferry could be very economical and efficent.

As mentioned already they will start building a huge bridge between the two countries.

Quoting QatarA340 (Thread starter): (QR, GF, UL, BA, IA,

UL flies twice per week with a A343. That must be fun.    

Quoting BigTom (Reply 13): I don't think they have the rights to fly pax from DOH-BAH or vice-versa.

They have, see here:  

IC 997 C2 W4 D4 Q4 M4 G4 H4 DOH BAH 1740 1825 E0/320 0:45

[Edited 2008-01-12 22:13:07]

[Edited 2008-01-12 22:13:28]

QR 160 4 DOH BAH 1545 1630 0 03APR08 31JUL08 320 0:45
IC 997 D DOH BAH 1740 1825 0 10APR08 17APR08 320 0:45
GF 515 D DOH BAH 1830 1915 0 30MAR08 25OCT08 738 0:45
UL 203 14 DOH BAH 1935 2030 0 29OCT07 --- 343 0:55


This is one for the A340 lovers.       ( Look at the flight time)  

Bahrain Air will start operations with former germanwings A320.

Actually They Started the Beirut flight few days ago but i am not sure if they can survive i mean with Gulf Air daily B737 flight there is not much traffic between beirut and bahrain specially now with the lebanese political situation anyways wish them goodluck

Sorry they'll start Feb.1 Confirmed (didnt start yet)

Quoting B727fan (Reply 12): Just a minor correction, it is internationally recognized as Persian Gulf, not Arabian Gulf

Not in Qatar  

Quoting BigTom (Reply 13): IC does fly between the two but as stops on a flight originating from India. I don't think they have the rights to fly pax from DOH-BAH or vice-versa.

They have pax rights to and from DOH.  

Quoting OHLHD (Reply 15): This is one for the A340 lovers. ( Look at the flight time)

Actually, they say 45 minutes and 55 minutes, but the actual flight time is 17-25 minutes.