Qatar Airways

[IanFarquharson]

I hope Qatar come back to Birmingham BHX we need them and they are cheaper airline and better service to Pakistan /India they also have Amritsa flights I am not sure what happening to Birmingham International Airport UK BHX-

They havent left yet and hopefully wont !

 

[JENNYJET]

Has not the Saudi blockade of Qatar, the state, been lifted including airspace? This could alter matters!.

 

[rollo]

I think Doha is almost more entirely a transit hub compared to Dubai for Emirates which is a destination in itself for many as well as being a mega hub offering worldwide connectivity so until this virous is dealt with I can't see Qatar returning if indeed they return at all.

 

[Coathanger16]

Has not the Saudi blockade of Qatar, the state, been lifted including airspace? This could alter matters!.

Saudi has but the blockade also applied to Qatar from UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Maldives, Yemen, Mauritania, Djibouti, Comoros, Niger & Gabon.

I have no idea how much traffic there is from the West Midlands to Saudi, but can't imagine it would make or break the BHX - DOH route.

The bigger factor is when Australia will re-open borders to international travellers. Qantas has just opened sales for international flights starting from 1st July, so it may be that Qatar delays relaunching flights until then.

 

[JENNYJET]

I perhaps should have referred to the diversionary routing around the region increasing costs of operating the BHX route but as Coat hanger says, Australia could be a significant factor.

 

[HPsauce]

I'm sure Qatar will be back when appropriate. They have maintained regular flights to Manchester for example throughout the pandemic.

 

[JENNYJET]

I am wondering if the Commonwealth Games official airline has been chosen yet and how they may deploy to BHX?

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there Jennyjet ,how are you, yes that would be interesting to find out which airline has been chosen, wouldn't it. AndyC

 

[IanFarquharson]

Hi there Jennyjet ,how are you, yes that would be interesting to find out which airline has been chosen, wouldn't it. AndyC

I think it was a joke

 

[JENNYJET]

Thank you Andrew, I am tickety boo! I tried the sponsorship list but could not find it. I am simply curious how the Asian national teams are getting here if not via Heathrow.

 

[Coathanger16]

if not via Heathrow.

They probably will tbh! Either that or into BHX with Emirates

 

[JENNYJET]

So can we expect a visit into BHX with direct Air Canada or Westjet and BA
equipment bringing in Caribbean athletes and maybe Qantas with Australasian competitors?

 

[Coathanger16]

So can we expect a visit into BHX with direct Air Canada or Westjet and BA
equipment bringing in Caribbean athletes and maybe Qantas with Australasian competitors?

If it was the Olympics yes.

The Commonwealth Games are more "low key", so I doubt there'll be any chartered services tbh.

 

[JENNYJET]

Fair comment, just a little fantasy from a dementia patient!

 

[Ray Finkle]

I very much doubt that long haul traffic will start to recover until into the second half of this year at the earliest and even then we don't know how quickly that recovery will be. As said, Doha isn't anywhere near the point to point route that Dubai is so the markets in Asia, NZ and Australia also have to be open as well as the UK.

Disappointing but I think 2022 is a realistic target and if they don't come back then it may leave opportunities for others further down the line.

 

[JENNYJET]

Reopen with a flourish for the Commonwealth shindig perhaps?

 

[Matty_85]

I couldn’t copy the link but the news was already out there... What does everyone make of the rail offer?
Courtesy of @spd_travels on twitter

https://twitter.com/x/status/1352623069433618433

 

[IanFarquharson]

Hopefully back at BHX in 2022

 

[Wrightfly73]

Not surprised by the news, maybe they will be back in the future who knows. Their exit at Birmingham will most certainly generate more demand for EK on connections to Australasia, Asia and Africa and even boost other services from KL, AF, LH, SK, OS, SN from their respective hubs.

 

[Matty_85]

Not surprised by the news, maybe they will be back in the future who knows. Their exit at Birmingham will most certainly generate more demand for EK on connections to Australasia, Asia and Africa and even boost other services from KL, AF, LH, SK, OS, SN from their respective hubs.

Is that probably the reason behind offering a train ticket? Just seems strange not to offer Cardiff passengers the same