Chrisrad From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1006 posts, RR: 9 Posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 2 days ago) and read 2404 times:
CANBERRA, March 16 (Reuters) - Middle East airline Qatar Airways has been awarded rights to operate a daily flight to Australia's second largest city of Melbourne, Transport Minister Mark Vaile said on Friday.
Vaile said under the new air services arrangement with Qatar, Qatar Airways will also have the right to operate a second daily flight to another Australian city from 2008 as Australia increases access rights for Middle East airlines.
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2346 times:
Quoting Sparklehorse12 (Reply 2): Out of interest will QR don't have the aircraft to do it non-stop do they?
In theory, their longest range aircraft, the A346HGW, could make DOH-MEL nonstop. At least according to the Great Circle Mapper, hence the could. Still air distance between those two cities would be about 6454 nm, technically well within range of the A346.
2wingtips From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2290 times:
They've been offered the services but will they take them up? I seem to recall reading earlier this week that QR were no longer interested in Australian services if EK intended to fly the A380 to Australia, which, of course, they do.
It's one thing to be offered the rights, it's another to take them up.
FlyDreamliner From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2759 posts, RR: 15 Reply 5, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2278 times:
Even with full headwinds, I can't imagine A346HGW would have any trouble with that. Congrats to Australia on picking up a world class airline, congrats to Qatar on expanding to a new continent.
"Let the world change you, and you can change the world"
Sparklehorse12 From Australia, joined Feb 2007, 869 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2198 times:
Quoting 2wingtips (Reply 4): They've been offered the services but will they take them up? I seem to recall reading earlier this week that QR were no longer interested in Australian services if EK intended to fly the A380 to Australia, which, of course, they do.
It's one thing to be offered the rights, it's another to take them up.
I sincerly hope they do take it up, like i have mentioned before, it would be good to see another airline here....
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11952 posts, RR: 37 Reply 10, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1722 times:
Quoting 2wingtips (Reply 4): They've been offered the services but will they take them up? I seem to recall reading earlier this week that QR were no longer interested in Australian services if EK intended to fly the A380 to Australia, which, of course, they do.
It's one thing to be offered the rights, it's another to take them up.
I heard about this and I was wondering exactly the same thing. It surprises me that QR would take this stance. After all, how long will it be before EK can actually operate A380s to Australia? Two years? If QR can get a good run in and develop a service and a good reputation (as it seems to have), won't it make life difficult for EK and it may even think twice before putting A380s on the route? (Mind you, something tells me economics isn't first on either carrier's mind!)
Also, will QR have fifth freedom rights between Australia and whatever city they choose as an en route stop?
Mtsubshe From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 67 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1668 times:
it is a good news for qatar, love flying on qatar, excellent services, and all brand new flights
6thfreedom From Bermuda, joined Sep 2004, 3266 posts, RR: 22 Reply 12, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 17 hours ago) and read 1502 times:
Quoting Kaitak (Reply 10): will QR have fifth freedom rights between Australia and whatever city they choose as an en route stop?
yes, full 5th are available over KUL, SIN, BKK....
I understand CMB was looked at some years ago, but Sri lankan authorities weren't willing to come to the party.... understandably, with UL looking to resume australian ops...
EK156 From United Arab Emirates, joined May 2005, 765 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 16 hours ago) and read 1450 times:
Sorry but as long as DOH is still the way it is and the ground staff of Qatar Airways are still rude as they have always been, there is no way I will be connecting through DOH again.... call me when the new airport opens.... and God be with all those who are going to connect through DOH
Don't get me wrong, QR service in the air is AMAZING! I truly enjoyed it, but on the ground.... it is another story.... they really mess things up on the ground...
I really cannot understand how they can start New York, Sao Paolo and now Melbourne with such a small airport!!!! Small and VERY crowded and the ground staff are unfriendly.... ouch.... But their airplanes are beautiful and the air crew is very very nice... not a perfect marriage between ground and air!
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4439 posts, RR: 43 Reply 14, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 1360 times:
The A 346IGW will struggle to fly DOH-MEL-DOH year round nonstop without a payload restriction and there is no point for QR flying this acft to MEL if it suffers this fate. Maximum revenue potential should be looked at.
If QR are going to start MEL service in 2007, that means with an A 346 or A 333...keeping that in mind, MEL should be flown via BKK using an A 333 as the only competition that it would face on the BKK-MEL route would be from TG whose inflight seat comfort / size / IFE is far inferior to QR's A 333 fleet.
However, if QR can wait until the B 772LRs of their's arrive, I would recommend them flying the route nonstop from DOH to attract the premium customers from the UK, DXB, Saudi Arabia and mainland EU to fly them as their main competitor i.e. EK too offers nonstop DAILY services from DXB to MEL.
CV580Freak From Bahrain, joined Jul 2005, 1033 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 1343 times:
Quoting Behramjee (Reply 14): However, if QR can wait until the B 772LRs of their's arrive, I would recommend them flying the route nonstop from DOH to attract the premium customers from the UK, DXB, Saudi Arabia and mainland EU to fly them as their main competitor i.e. EK too offers nonstop DAILY services from DXB to MEL.
Why don't you point this out to Al Baker, I bet he missed this .............
One day you are the pigeon, the next the statue ...
OHLHD From Finland, joined Dec 2004, 3962 posts, RR: 27 Reply 16, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1327 times:
Quoting EK156 (Reply 13): Sorry but as long as DOH is still the way it is and the ground staff of Qatar Airways are still rude as they have always been, there is no way I will be connecting through DOH again.... call me when the new airport opens.... and God be with all those who are going to connect through DOH
Well, it is not that bad. Probably you had a very bad expierence, but I do not think that the new Airport brings in new people. BTW God must be very busy because there are millions of people connecting through DOH.
Quoting EK156 (Reply 13): Don't get me wrong, QR service in the air is AMAZING! I truly enjoyed it, but on the ground.... it is another story.... they really mess things up on the ground...
Do you mean the ground service in generell or just DOH?
Quoting EK156 (Reply 13): I really cannot understand how they can start New York, Sao Paolo and now Melbourne with such a small airport!!!! Small and VERY crowded and the ground staff are unfriendly.... ouch.... But their airplanes are beautiful and the air crew is very very nice... not a perfect marriage between ground and air!
The airport is way better than it used to be 2 years ago. There is a lot of space especially in the first floor, the question is just why all the people are waiting downstairs.
OHLHD From Finland, joined Dec 2004, 3962 posts, RR: 27 Reply 18, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1276 times:
Quoting Mtsubshe (Reply 17): people wait downstairs because of duty free shops
But some connecting times are more than 4 hours at DOH so it doesn´t make sense for the passengers to wait downstairs when there is plenty of space available upstairs.
QatarA340 From Qatar, joined May 2006, 1602 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 1191 times:
I am not sure if you guys know, but from December and maybe before, the airport has expanded upstairs. There are plenty of seats and an extra cafe upstairs. It is still small, but way bigger than it was before.
I was in DOH in NOV and downstairs was hell and upstairs it was like heaven. Almost all seats available.
It was just anoying that you can´t take pictures from above becaus of this semi see through windows..... especially since the Emir´s father private jet the B747SP was standing right there in front of me.
Will be interesting to see how it will be in Maywhen I am going to DOH again.
VHVXB From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 5517 posts, RR: 20 Reply 23, posted (6 years 2 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 1116 times:
Quoting Behramjee (Reply 14): as the only competition that it would face on the BKK-MEL route would be from TG whose inflight seat comfort / size / IFE is far inferior to QR's A 333 fleet.
Not to forget QF low cost subsidiary who also fly on this route. In regards to TG they fly their latest aircraft on this route (A346 or B772ER) so I don't really think they have an inferior product.
27 Jacobin777: ....you takin' the piss or do you have a problem with someone making a valuable contribution to the boards?
28 EK413: Pretty difficult to justify the new airport if the capacity isnt needed... By QR expanding its network it would place pressure on the existing one an
29 6thfreedom: As I have mentioned numerous times in the past in relation to QR ops to MEL, BKK makes sense for a number of reasons. Apart from BKK only having TG a
30 EK413: An interesting way to put it..Well pointed out EK413
31 6thfreedom: Thanks... but I should add that what QR would need is an additional pair of slots at BKK, not landing rights.... the landing rights [air services arr
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BTW God must be very busy because there are millions of people connecting through DOH. 
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