Cardiff: Qatar Airways, will it return?

[geoff]

The expansion at BRS may result in difficulties in slot allocation, which may result in some of the airline operators at CWL, looking to CWL as an alternative. The difficulty is that people from the other side of the Severn are less inclined to travel from CWL, whereas some Welsh travellers look to BRS as a departure point before they consider CWL, although the last year Qatar operated 18% of passengers originated from England.

 

[Jerry]

Spencer Birns and Vaughan Gething met the CEO of Qatar Airways on Monday at the Paris Airshow and the CEO reaffirmed the airlines intention of restarting the Cardiff to Doha route.
The question of incentives for the route was raised and it was said that at the moment it's a commercial negotiation between airport and airline but the possibility of future incentives from the Welsh government hasn't been ruled out.

 

[geoff]

It would be a massive boost for CWL if and when Qatar return, it is a real struggle for the management to entice airlines to the airport.

 

[Jerry]

Fingers crossed!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1681966451672989696

 

[Jetsco]

Fingers crossed!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1681966451672989696

A very long lead in time. I suspect this is to test the market, see how sales go etc, A huge Welsh Gov subsidy also to tempt QR back. I hope it works out but am not convinced Cardiff can sustain a long haul route. Drakeford like his lockdown pal in Scotland - Sturgeon caused immeasurable damage to the aviation sector.

 

[Jerry]

A huge Welsh Gov subsidy also to tempt QR back.

I would be generally surprised if the current Welsh Government offered Qatar Airways any sort of subsidy at all.

A very long lead in time.

Yes which is good as that generates sales.

 

[Jetsco]

I would be generally surprised if the current Welsh Government offered Qatar Airways any sort of subsidy at all.

Yes which is good as that generates sales.

Like you, I’m sceptical about Welsh Gov subsidies. I only mentioned this as others have commented and would appear to assume that Gov financial incentives have been offered. I’m certain that the airport will have offered generous landing fees etc. I wonder if QR will attempt to drum up some early sales with special introductory fares?

 

[Jerry]

Like you, I’m sceptical about Welsh Gov subsidies. I only mentioned this as others have commented and would appear to assume that Gov financial incentives have been offered. I’m certain that the airport will have offered generous landing fees etc. I wonder if QR will attempt to drum up some early sales with special introductory fares?

There was a marketing deal in place previously for Qatar Airways to advertise Wales as a destination whether that happens again i wouldn't know but i would be very surprised if the Welsh Government directly subsidised the flight especially with the whole climate change thing. The airport has previously stated that they don't charge landing fees just a passenger handling fee but the reality is that the airport can't afford to subsidise a route either.
What is good this time as well is that routes like Dubai are available as well.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

A very long lead in time. I suspect this is to test the market, see how sales go etc, A huge Welsh Gov subsidy also to tempt QR back. I hope it works out but am not convinced Cardiff can sustain a long haul route. Drakeford like his lockdown pal in Scotland - Sturgeon caused immeasurable damage to the aviation sector.

It's only 5 months away. I would've said that's the minimum for long haul travel.

 

[geoff]

After posting this morning in the TUI section that CWL could do with some good news, we here the great news of Qatar reinstating the DOhA route, the future is getting brighter for CWL.

 

[Jetsco]

I suspect some news should break soon about Qatar’s plans for Cardiff. In last couple of days, QR have made some amendments/increases to previously published UK W23 schedules and aircraft. LHR receive an additional daily service. Manchester have seen some aircraft changes and Edinburgh will see double daily A359 from December instead of a mix of 788/9.

 

[CWL94]

I suspect some news should break soon about Qatar’s plans for Cardiff. In last couple of days, QR have made some amendments/increases to previously published UK W23 schedules and aircraft. LHR receive an additional daily service. Manchester have seen some aircraft changes and Edinburgh will see double daily A359 from December instead of a mix of 788/9.

I really hope that is the case, they applied for slots well over a month ago and nothing has materialised since

 

[IanFarquharson]

Qatar need to find an aircraft to increase BHX asap 🙂

 

[Aviador]

Qatar need to find an aircraft to increase BHX asap 🙂

Wrong forum Ian!

 

[IanFarquharson]

BHX lack of capacity may impact CWL re-start ?

 

[Jerry]

Personally I'd actually hope they'll hold off until Summer 2024. Much longer lead time than the 3 months until December.

 

[gulftraveller]

We don‘t know yet whether there will be a lack of capacity at BHX over the winter. As for CWL it seems very late for a December start. Apart from the slot requests, there has been no news.

 

[nwoody2001]

and in fairness, QR was applying for slots ay BHX circa 18 months before they actually announced the restart of the route. Slot requests are obviously a clear sign of intention, but i would find a mind winter start from the UK a little odd - thought not inpossible!

 

[Barry Man]

To put your minds at ease, it looks like March - April, thats what I am hearing from airside at this time ,this is where I work

 

[Jerry]

To put your minds at ease, it looks like March - April, thats what I am hearing from airside at this time ,this is where I work

That would be really good news and a more sensible restart.