Qatar Airways

[Jerry]

Doha saw 8391 passengers in December up 30%. The average load was 190, a 74.8% LF.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Doha saw 8391 passengers in December up 30%. The average load was 190, a 74.8% LF.

up 30%. A huge gain and very pleasing.

 

[geoff]

Just read on dried plum that Qatar had just over 90,000 passengers in 2019, a gain of 63% over 2018, what a great result for CWL, let's hope it continues to grow, perhaps we could see if larger planes on the route.

 

[Jerry]

90,679 passengers used the Doha route in 2019. Average load of 148 passengers. 58.2% LF overall.
This doesn't take into account any cancelled or diverted flights.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Just read on dried plum that Qatar had just over 90,000 passengers in 2019, a gain of 63% over 2018, what a great result for CWL, let's hope it continues to grow, perhaps we could see if larger planes on the route.

A 63% gain assuming it's a year on year comparison? Bearing in mind the route didn't start until May, so it's not a true reflection unless May-Dec 2018 & 2019 is compared.
I would think 58% LF is far off requiring a bigger aircraft just yet.

 

[Jerry]

Who knows with Qatar! Loads weren't exactly full at Edinburgh but they still upgraded! But I'd have thought that extra frequencies especially in say July and August might be a better option for the airport to push for.

 

[StanMan]

Agree with Jerry on the increased frequencies. The University I work for encourages staff and overseas students to utilise the service, but the often extended connection times at Doha arising from a once a day service is a deterrent for some and I guess is likely to be a deterrent for other travellers too.

A double-day service with an A321NEO or A321NEO LR would help resolve that situation - although not sure if going single-aisle would then be seen as a problem, particularly for many users of the route it probably being the first in a 2 or more leg long-haul journey.

 

[Jerry]

an A321NEO or A321NEO LR

I can't see that happening even if it was just for extra flights. Would be too much of a logistical issue for Qatar I'd have thought and be considered a downgrade by many.

 

[Jarvo]

I can't see that happening even if it was just for extra flights. Would be too much of a logistical issue for Qatar I'd have thought and be considered a downgrade by many.

Considering the cargo side of the operation is hardly at capacity, the economics of a second Dreamliner daily may be a lot harder to make work. A321 LR's were mentioned by QR when they put their latest 10 aircraft order in as being for operating new thinner routes, specifically in Asia, and adding capacity on existing routes. I'd imagine as a stepping stone to increased frequency widebody operations as a demand test.

The conditions on a QR A321 are hardly the same as an easyJet A321... Most people when they book are unlikely to change their plans based on the aircraft type being used. It's the layover time and cost that are the main concerns. And since cargo is a lot less sensitive to a 7+ hour wait at DOH than passengers, a smaller, passenger only flight may be just what's needed to complete CWL's argument against travelling to LHR.

But hey, if QR did add a second Dreamliner, ol' Carwyn Jones' crazy claim of A380s at CWL wouldn't be totally mad considering it would mean 504 daily seats in each direction

 

[Jerry]

The conditions on a QR A321 are hardly the same as an easyJet A321...

It would still put people off as many seem to frown on narrow bodies on long haul even though Doha could be considered a short long haul flight being just under a 7 hour flight.
I think as well though for Qatar to consider adding A321s it would have to add them to other routes across the UK as say just a 3 weekly Cardiff to add extra frequency to the route might be too much of a pain crew logistically wise. I do believe as well many of the A321neos are down as replacements for their A320 fleet so they might not have the aircraft spare.

 

[superking]

For a daily A380 rotation. Check the runway length and taxiways if the taxi ways are strong enough. Also check the operateing performance of the A380 against the length of runway. The b 747 is not a problem but when loaded to Florida they went via Belfast to pick up pax and fuel..

 

[Foxlimayankee]

747s went direct to Florida when Travel City operated the -300 series out of CWL

 

[TheLocalYokel]

747s went direct to Florida when Travel City operated the -300 series out of CWL

Wardair operated from CWL to Toronto in the early 80s or might have begun in the late 70s. Didn't they use the 747 on that route at times?

Qatar Airways seems to have had a spectacular December. Apart from CWL being up 30%, BHX was up 16% and Manchester up 32%. EDI was flat. LGW was up 55% but that was partly on the back of an increased frequency whilst LHR was up 16% although British Airways also operates the LHR-Doha route.

Contrast that with the UAE where, apart from Stansted to Dubai up 95% but that was because of a doubling of frequency, the percentage increases to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi were small, although as with Doha British Airways also operates from LHR to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Nevertheless, the underlying message is that UK-Doha grew significantly more (22%) in December than either UK-Dubai or UK-Abu Dhabi, with the growth on UK-UAE routes up 6%.

The UK-UAE market is considerably larger than the UK-Qatar market (1,069,000 in December compared with 198,000), so for CWL to increase its share of the 198,000 by 2,000 is good going.

Stats courtesy of CAA.

 

[Jerry]

Just seen on Facebook that the Qatar Airways promoting team I suppose you can call them are down in Truro, Cornwall at the Newells holiday show with a small stand promoting Qatar Airways, Cardiff airport and Kuoni.

https://www.facebook.com/1649884181920726/posts/2567891190120016

 

[Jarvo]

small stand promoting Qatar Airways, Cardiff airport and Kuoni.

Interesting to note that Kuoni are there. I have had their 2020 brochure and every destination package that they've used Qatar for, they give an option of London, Birmingham, Manchester or Edinburgh.

 

[Jerry]

Interesting to note that Kuoni are there. I have had their 2020 brochure and every destination package that they've used Qatar for, they give an option of London, Birmingham, Manchester or Edinburgh.

Interesting. Maybe only an option by request? Or will be for 2021?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

At first sight it might be thought that all this would do would be to displace some Qatar passengers from Heathrow or possibly Gatwick or Birmingham.

However, the road journey from Truro (I've used Truro as an example as it's where the promotion took place but the principle applies to Cornwall as a whole) to Cardiff Airport is shown on AA route planner as 210 miles with a journey time of 3 hours 36 minutes. The shortest route and journey time from Truro to Heathrow (there is more than one option) is 245 miles and 4 hour 15 minutes.

Train is a slightly better option from Truro to Paddington than from Truro to Cardiff Central (from both railway stations the respective airports have to be reached by road or rail connection). Direct trains leave Truro for Paddington every hour and take 4 houts 35 minutes whereas most Truro-Cardiff Central journeys require one or two changes (depending on option taken) of train en route and can take from between four and a half hours and five and a half hours, although there are three direct trains each day that perversely take about half an hour longer than some of the journeys requiring a change of train en route.

No doubt overall cost (air fare and cost of getting to/from LHR or CWL) will be important to many people. The CWL option is probably not well known in Cornwall and Qatar will no doubt be hoping that some people, when they do become aware, might use the route instead of perhaps Emirates or Etihad from London.

Some people too might prefer the ease and lack of rush at a small airport compared with LHR.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

How long does folk think CWL-DOH is going to operate before it gets suspended (probably temporarily).

 

[Jerry]

How long does folk think CWL-DOH is going to operate before it gets suspended (probably temporarily).

If I'm correct Doha doesn't have many cases of the virus but it'll be a case of wait and see. It seems that for the ME3 it's business as usual.
The biggest worry is TUI.

 

[ROC10]

If I'm correct Doha doesn't have many cases of the virus but it'll be a case of wait and see. It seems that for the ME3 it's business as usual.
The biggest worry is TUI.

CWL's TUI base (like most others) is gone for the foreseeable future. Flights are exclusively to Spain and Cyprus, both of which TUI have completely cancelled.

There are likely to be inbound-only ops next week and then it could all go very quiet for some time unfortunately.