Qatar Airways To Launch ATL, ORD, BOS With 787s

flyyul · Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:12 am

I just saw the headline on bloomberg. Unfortunately there is nothing on google news just yet on this subject

LIPZ · Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:18 am

They are seeking to add more flights to Canada as well but it seems like they are not allowed to.

LIPZ · Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:20 am

They want to serve Detroit too.

Quote:
Qatar Airways Ltd. plans to start flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Detroit within the next year, doubling its U.S. network, as the carrier begins receiving Boeing Co. (BA) 787 Dreamliners.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...icago-as-787-deliveries-begin.html

flyyul · Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:24 am

Wow.

+ JFK 3 daily (or 1 EWR + 2 JFK)

DLX737200 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:14 am

Qatar currently only serves ATL with cargo flights twice a week. Pretty excited if they start bringing passenger 787s to the southeast! Awesome!

[Edited 2012-04-13 02:23:51]

behramjee · Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:53 am

It will most likely be EWR daily via Europe similar to the current JFK schedule but with obviously a later arrival and earlier departure time.

JFK would go double daily.

LAXdude1023 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:17 am

DTW as well. Great work QR!

RWA380 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:20 am

Wow, trying to beat EK to some markets? Ambitious move on QR's part, hope it all works out for them. Love seeing the 787 getting into more and more airports too, crossing my fingers for PDX.

airmale · Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:15 am

New York via Europe? Maybe QR brings back DOH-GVA-JFK and starts DOH-BUD-JFK?

behramjee · Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:37 am

Both their GVA and ZRH flights are struggling on a year round basis and that is why already some of their daily frequencies to Switzerland are operated with A320s. They used to operate a daily A333 to EWR via GVA in 2006-07. Though I would suggest they look seriously at DOH-WAW-EWR!

thegivenone · Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:51 pm

Thanks for the info FLYYUL.

FINALLY a Middle Eastern carrier has announced service to BOS and has answered one of the most frequently reoccurring questions on this forum

. Well done to Qatar for beating Emirates, Etihad and Turkish to a very lucrative market with high demand for connections to Asia and (growingly) Africa.

Now, if they would only join Star Alliance...

lightsaber · Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:56 pm

Interesting that we'll see the 787 utilized for its intended role (hub-bypass). No, I'm not surprised it is to feed another hub.

Interesting to see someone taking away EK's 'first mover advantage' in gaining media attention for serving North America.

Quoting LIPZ (Reply 2):
They want to serve Detroit too.

I'm not sure that is a wise move. With further EK expansion the value of hubbing will drop.

Quoting FLYYUL (Reply 3):
(or 1 EWR + 2 JFK)

That makes more sense to me. I've actually wondered why EK doesn't serve EWR. While they share some markets, they do not share all markets.

Lightsaber

mogandoCI · Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:04 pm

Seems that QR is avoiding EK left and right with their new selection.

EK : YYZ, ___, JFK, IAD, IAH, ___, SFO, LAX, SEA, DFW,
QR : ___, YUL, JFK, IAD, IAH, ORD, ___, ___, ___, ___, ATL, DTW, BOS
EY : YYZ, ___, JFK, IAD, ___, ORD

Surprised to see IAD getting more gulf service than either Chicago or Los Angeles

globalflyer · Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:07 pm

This is EXCELLENT News! The QR service is outstanding.

tjwgrr · Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:09 pm

ORD and possibly EWR... hmm... one step closer to joining *A?

Don't they already codeshare w/ UA on certain flights?

sq_ek_freak · Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:14 pm

Quoting lightsaber (Reply 11):
Interesting to see someone taking away EK's 'first mover advantage' in gaining media attention for serving North America.

But the time frame seems to be unclear? They will need multiple airframes to operate to these cities with any decent frequency?

I have to say increasing from 113 destinations to 170 over three years seems awfully ambitious, even for an airline like QR. I mean that works out to a whopping 19 destinations a year.

mogandoCI · Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:14 pm

Quoting tjwgrr (Reply 14):
Don't they already codeshare w/ UA on certain flights?

Lots of it, especially through their DOH-IAD service. The moment QR adds EWR and SFO, their coverage into the UA network is complete.

vulindlela744 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:20 pm

Will the ATL service be nonstop or via Europe(GVA)? The article doesn't elaborate on that.

hohd · Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:25 pm

Quoting tjwgrr (Reply 14):

You can forget about EK joining * A.. LH and other star carriers have been and will continue to be against it. Last year UA and CO dropped its frequent flyer link with EK. CO dropped after EK introduced its second flight to IAH (which is now back to 1 daily).

QR has a relationship with UA now. But if QR gets bigger and starts eating away the revenues of LH or UA, look for UA dumping QR too. Yes QR code shares its IAD flight with UA, thus getting government travel.

I think there is a more realistic chance that EY joining oneworld than QR joining * A.

mogandoCI · Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:31 pm

Quoting hohd (Reply 18):
QR has a relationship with UA now. But if QR gets bigger and starts eating away the revenues of LH or UA, look for UA dumping QR too. Yes QR code shares its IAD flight with UA, thus getting government travel.

Not just UA. QR's FF program has partnerships with NH, OZ, LH, UA, and US. Not sure how many people they code-share with.

Flying Belgian · Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:33 pm

Strange that given the big Middle Eastern community in the Detroit area, the Gulf carriers aren't seeking more actively to link their hub to DTW airport.

If QR is ever landing in DTW it'll be a major blow for RJ.

Jonathanxxxx · Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:36 pm

Quoting Flying Belgian (Reply 20):

Strange that given the big Middle Eastern community in the Detroit area, the Gulf carriers aren't seeking more actively to link their hub to DTW airport.

But isn't the traffic going more toward the Western MIddle East (Lebanon, Jordan etc.)? QR isn't really in a position to transport that traffic. If anything this might be catering to the Indian or other Middle Eastern traffic. I'm not too sure about this... TK would be much better suited to cater to the market.

IrishAyes · Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:55 pm

Quoting AirMale (Reply 8):

Quoting Flying Belgian (Reply 20):
Strange that given the big Middle Eastern community in the Detroit area, the Gulf carriers aren't seeking more actively to link their hub to DTW airport.

If QR is ever landing in DTW it'll be a major blow for RJ.

I'm inclined to believe that traffic isn't particularly high-yielding - mostly VFR.

As is, RJ flies only 2x weekly into DTW, and via YUL as well. QR will most definitely go in with daily flights, which will certainly hurt RJ.

Quoting jonathanxxxx (Reply 21):
But isn't the traffic going more toward the Western MIddle East (Lebanon, Jordan etc.)? QR isn't really in a position to transport that traffic. If anything this might be catering to the Indian or other Middle Eastern traffic. I'm not too sure about this... TK would be much better suited to cater to the market.

Agreed. It's funny that TK was the one who made these aggressive announcements to launch BOS, MIA, DTW, ATL etc. and QR seems to want to beat them to the punch.

slcdeltarumd11 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:56 pm

I'm guessing ATL is going to be dependent on connections on both side and maybe also a stop in europe? Is there much o&d on the route?

flyinryan99 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:57 pm

DTW is doing a "sign the petition" drive to bring flights to the middle east. Would be cool to see the 787 in DTW.

http://www.detroit2dubai.com/

WA707atMSP · Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:27 pm

Quoting jonathanxxxx (Reply 21):
Quoting Flying Belgian (Reply 20):

Strange that given the big Middle Eastern community in the Detroit area, the Gulf carriers aren't seeking more actively to link their hub to DTW airport.

But isn't the traffic going more toward the Western MIddle East (Lebanon, Jordan etc.)? QR isn't really in a position to transport that traffic. If anything this might be catering to the Indian or other Middle Eastern traffic. I'm not too sure about this... TK would be much better suited to cater to the market.

Agreed.

Given the huge Iraqi presence in the detroit area, Iraqi Airways would be a logical airline from the Middle East to serve DTW, but that will be several years off at best. Iraqi Airways actually announced they would begin DTW-Baghdad flights in the spring of 1991, but Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in Aug 1990 prevented the flights from being launched.

Even a DTW-BEY flight on MEA would be better than QR, because DTW-Iraq is shorter via BEY than via DOH, and MEA could potentially code share with DL on the route.

airbazar · Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:50 pm

Quoting thegivenone (Reply 10):
FINALLY a Middle Eastern carrier has announced service to BOS and has answered one of the most frequently reoccurring questions on this forum . Well done to Qatar for beating Emirates, Etihad and Turkish to a very lucrative market with high demand for connections to Asia and (growingly) Africa.

BOS is all about India traffic. It doesn't make a lot of sense to travel to E.Asia via the Middle East.

Quoting hohd (Reply 18):
QR has a relationship with UA now. But if QR gets bigger and starts eating away the revenues of LH or UA, look for UA dumping QR too.

Well, if they start BOS they will eat a big chunk of LH/UA traffic from BOS. LH's flights carry a large pecentage of India bound passengers. In fact a lot of the TATL flights from BOS cater to this market.

aeroblogger · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:15 pm

Along with NRT (JL), PEK (MU), and DEL (AI), and IST (TK), BOS is getting DOH (QR).

All I can say is wow. For so many years, we had no Asian service. And now we'll have a ton.

[Edited 2012-04-13 11:20:29]

MAV88 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:19 pm

Quoting aeroblogger (Reply 27):
Along with NRT (JL), PEK (MU), and DEL (AI), BOS is getting DOH (QR).

All I can say is wow. For so many years, we had no Asian service. And now we'll have a ton.

BOS is not getting all of that service. JL starts NRT-BOS in a couple weeks. The new DOH service was just mentioned in this article. PEK and DEL are not on the table.

BOS is a long way from getting direct service to India and China. Baby steps.

[Edited 2012-04-13 11:20:33]

MAH4546 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:20 pm

Quoting aeroblogger (Reply 27):

Along with NRT (JL), PEK (MU), and DEL (AI), BOS is getting DOH (QR).

All I can say is wow. For so many years, we had no Asian service. And now we'll have a ton.

AI has announced no such route. And MU to BOS? It can talk all it wants, but don't hold your breath.

aeroblogger · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:24 pm

Quoting MAV88 (Reply 28):

BOS is not getting all of that service. JL starts NRT-BOS in a couple weeks. The new DOH service was just mentioned din this article. PEK and DEL are not on the table.

Yes, JL launches BOS in a few weeks.

I know for a fact that the current plan is that AI will launch DEL-BOS in January 2013, after they launch DEL-MEL in October, although that has not been made public yet, and is still waiting on various government approvals.

MU has announced that they will begin PEK-BOS on 01-June using 340s.

I know that DOH and IST have not been formally announced yet, but the fact that BOS even made the "shortlist" for these airlines is very encouraging.

[Edited 2012-04-13 11:25:25]

MAH4546 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:26 pm

Quoting aeroblogger (Reply 30):
MU has announced that they will begin PEK-BOS on 01-June using 340s.

No, MU has not announced that. There is an article that falsely states, that, however, so I understand why you think that.

Quoting aeroblogger (Reply 30):
I know for a fact that the current plan is that AI will launch DEL-BOS in January 2013, after they launch DEL-MEL in October, although that has not been made public yet, and is still waiting on various government approvals.

U.S.-India is Open Skies. No approval process whatsoever, which already shows what you are saying about DELBOS is false.

aeroblogger · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:29 pm

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 31):

No, MU has not announced that. There is an article that falsely states, that, however, so I understand why you think that.

Really? CAPA is usually pretty reliable.

That's a shame

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 31):

U.S.-India is Open Skies. No approval process whatsoever, which already shows what you are saying about DELBOS is false.

Yes, USA-India is Open Skies. But AI still has to get various approvals from various government ministries. AI is a government-run carrier, so every move they make is closely regulated.

MAV88 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:30 pm

Quoting aeroblogger (Reply 30):
Quoting MAV88 (Reply 28):

BOS is not getting all of that service. JL starts NRT-BOS in a couple weeks. The new DOH service was just mentioned din this article. PEK and DEL are not on the table.

Yes, JL launches BOS in a few weeks.

I know for a fact that the current plan is that AI will launch DEL-BOS in January 2013, after they launch DEL-MEL in October, although that has not been made public yet, and is still waiting on various government approvals.

MU has announced that they will begin PEK-BOS on 01-June using 777s.

I know that DOH and IST have not been formally announced yet, but the fact that BOS even made the "shortlist" for these airlines is very encouraging.

There has been no announcement for BOS-PEK service. I posted a short while ago that the authority had changed from HU to MU and that there isn't any indication that the flight will materialize. Which it won't, at least not any time soon. You can add a number of cities that will appear on a carrier's short list, but actually starting service is another thing.

I will believe the BOS-DEL service when I hear an official announcement from AI. I doubt BOS will be getting non-stop flights to DEL and PEK, in addition to NRT (which is definitely happening) and DOH (which has been announced) any time soon. Like I said, baby steps. See how NRT-BOS does first.

aeroblogger · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:33 pm

Quoting MAV88 (Reply 33):

There has been no announcement for BOS-PEK service.

http://www.centreforaviation.com/new...g-boston-launch-in-jun-2012-150338
This article suggests that MU has announced BOS-PEK from 01-Jun 2012 using A340s. MAH4546 says that this was a mistake though

Quoting MAV88 (Reply 33):

I will believe the BOS-DEL service when I hear an official announcement from AI.

Fair enough. That's a reasonable position to take.
You'll be hearing about it soon enough

irishpower · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:38 pm

Still no west coast destinations! I'm curious-when do we think LAX or SFO might be added?

LondonCity · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:49 pm

Quoting hohd (Reply 18):
You can forget about EK joining * A.. LH and other star carriers have been and will continue to be against it.

Why would EK, QR, EY consider joining Star when one of its founder members, Lufthansa, wants to restrict their growth in the EU ?

http://www.businesstraveller.com/new...sa-seeks-gulf-airline-restrictions

washingtonian · Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:58 pm

Good news all around.

Quoting behramjee (Reply 5):
It will most likely be EWR daily via Europe similar to the current JFK schedule but with obviously a later arrival and earlier departure time.

JFK would go double daily.

Not bad at all growth! Typical for EWR to get the secondary service...I wonder if JFK will get a second 77W or the 787 as well.

Quoting AirMale (Reply 8):
Maybe QR brings back DOH-GVA-JFK

Wasn't this to EWR? I don't recall one-stop QR service to JFK....When did QR arrive at JFK anyway? 2004ish right?

Quoting mogandoCI (Reply 12):
Surprised to see IAD getting more gulf service than either Chicago or Los Angeles

I wouldn't be surprised at all if IAD gets the A-380 next year. Though things might be different with EK and EY also serving Dulles in the near future....

B747forever · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:05 pm

Quoting Irishpower (Reply 35):
Still no west coast destinations! I'm curious-when do we think LAX or SFO might be added?

Yeah, I really thought that Los Angeles would be the next US destination for QR.

N62NA · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:10 pm

Quoting behramjee (Reply 5):
It will most likely be EWR daily via Europe similar to the current JFK schedule but with obviously a later arrival and earlier departure time.

That's exciting!

Quoting washingtonian (Reply 37):
Typical for EWR to get the secondary service..

Thank you! At times it seems like I'm the only one on here who recognizes that EWR seems to get the "table scraps" of any airlines that isn't UA/CO.

ASFlyer · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:12 pm

No MIA? How odd. I thought there was a large need for travel to the Middle East from Miami.

N623JB · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:16 pm

So does this mean that Qatar is going to bring the B787 to JFK? Is that what im reading?

pnd100 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:18 pm

There was some talk about QR 787s to Canada. What obstacles are there. They fly only to YUL at the moment, what does the bilateral allow?

Quoting N62NA (Reply 39):
Quoting washingtonian (Reply 37):
Typical for EWR to get the secondary service..

Thank you! At times it seems like I'm the only one on here who recognizes that EWR seems to get the "table scraps" of any airlines that isn't UA/CO.

There is definitely a "prestige" element to JFK even though demographics & location suggest that EWR is a better choice for many foreign airlines. I'm sure there are other factors as well but I can tell you that worldwide even common people know about JFK airport & I'm sure that cache factors in to the decision.

washingtonian · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:23 pm

Quoting ASFlyer (Reply 40):
No MIA? How odd. I thought there was a large need for travel to the Middle East from Miami.

EK will be there soon enough.

Quoting pnd100 (Reply 42):
There is definitely a "prestige" element to JFK even though demographics & location suggest that EWR is a better choice for many foreign airlines.

Demographics and location do not suggest such a thing. I'm not one to think that JFK is VASTLY superior to EWR; they both serve their purposes and there is a need for both. Both are more or less equally (in)convenient to get to from Manhattan. But the fact remains that for decades now, almost every airline chooses to deploy their most prestigious products to JFK. Now you can think this is an irrational decision by free-market airlines for decades now (as you suggest) or you can think there is an actual, real reason for it. Take your pick.

Quoting pnd100 (Reply 42):
I'm sure there are other factors as well but I can tell you that worldwide even common people know about JFK airport & I'm sure that cache factors in to the decision.

Yes. JFK is the "main" NYC international airport even though EWR is just as much of an international airport for NYC.

mogandoCI · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:25 pm

Quoting pnd100 (Reply 42):
There is definitely a "prestige" element to JFK even though demographics & location suggest that EWR is a better choice for many foreign airlines. I'm sure there are other factors as well but I can tell you that worldwide even common people know about JFK airport & I'm sure that cache factors in to the decision.

Sadly that's true. Recently I've had a missed connection at ICN and was asking CA to re-route me (original routing ICN-PEK-EWR). The AirChina rep had absolutely no idea that EWR/JFK are the same metro, and kept looking for oddball routings that only go to EWR.

ASFlyer · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:26 pm

Quoting washingtonian (Reply 43):
EK will be there soon enough.

That's what I thought too but so far... nothing. Soon I guess. They keep announcing other cities though.

mogandoCI · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:33 pm

Quoting washingtonian (Reply 43):
Quoting ASFlyer (Reply 40):
No MIA? How odd. I thought there was a large need for travel to the Middle East from Miami.

EK will be there soon enough.

Surprised how low the priority for MIA is.

EK/QR/EY combined have/will have service to 13 cities in North America total .... and still no MIA.

It'd be funny if MSP service arrives before MIA.

Jonathanxxxx · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:37 pm

Quoting mogandoCI (Reply 46):
It'd be funny if MSP service arrives before MIA.

I'd laugh. *Sigh* There's always still that 3rd city EK said they'll announce back at the DFW announcement. Hope for the best!

MAV88 · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:37 pm

Quoting ASFlyer (Reply 40):
No MIA? How odd. I thought there was a large need for travel to the Middle East from Miami.

I am surprised too. I would have thought MIA would have year round, non-stop flights to at least TLV, IST and either DOH/DXB by now.

BOStonsox · Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:38 pm

According to a Massport presentation I found online, these are the numbers for BOS-Asia:

BOS-NRT: 186 PDEW
BOS-TLV: 158 PDEW
BOS-PDG: 122 PDEW
BOS-ICN: 119 PDEW
BOS-PEK: 108 PDEW
BOS-HKG: 108 PDEW
BOS-BOM: 85 PDEW

Going by these numbers, I think someone is bound to launch BOS-China sooner or later, though MU would need the 787 in order to do so. BOS-India will be a little harder. These numbers make BOS-TLV seem more promising.

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