Qatar Airways

[Jerry]

Is the much talked about return of QR, finally about to happen?

Cardiff Airport hopes cargo route can turn around fortunes

Cardiff Airport's chief executive praises a new cargo service, but passenger numbers remain low.

www.bbc.co.uk

I won't get too excited.
He firstly says anticipating their return and then states he's actively encouraging it.
I think with Qatar Airways we need to assume that they're not returning and then if they do then it'll be good news and like a new airline!

 

[Jerry]

8 years ago on this date Qatar Airways Cardiff to Doha route began.
Will it ever return?

 

[Em0866]

If it was going to return I think it would have by now. Never say never but maybe they should try a different airline instead, like Turkish Airlines. They also have excellent connectivity to many points on the globe, including to Australia via Kuala Lumpur.

 

[Jerry]

If it was going to return I think it would have by now. Never say never but maybe they should try a different airline instead, like Turkish Airlines. They also have excellent connectivity to many points on the globe, including to Australia via Kuala Lumpur.

I tend to agree but sadly I think Turkish is probably a bit ambitious. I think the focus should be on European hubs that are closer. Amsterdam with KLM, Paris CDG with Air France and maybe ambitious as well but hubs like Copenhagen with SAS and Munich with Lufthansa. All are city destinations as well. I may be biased but I think the government should be looking at trying to get some sort of partnership going with Air France-KLM/Skyteam.

 

[Aviador]

In another thread elsewhere in the forum is was mentioned that Qatar received a financial aid package to enable the Cardiff flight to commence. I don't agree with this practice but I also don't think Qatar would only serve Cardiff while the funding was in place. I am sure if they thought the route was sustainable they would have continued to operate it. Wasn't it suspended at the start of Covid? It maybe the airline would commit if the initial recommencement costs were covered? That aside, moving on from Qatar I see no reason why Turkish wouldn't look at Cardiff (or Bristol) It isn't just about the UK airport seeking new flights, airlines are too and Turkish Airlines have big expansion plans, and they will seek to target passengers who have traditionally used the ME3 and it will be easier for them to do that from new regional departure points.

 

[Jerry]

In another thread elsewhere in the forum is was mentioned that Qatar received a financial aid package to enable the Cardiff flight to commence.

There was a marketing agreement between Qatar Airways and the Welsh government to promote Wales both sides committed some money though the Welsh government the most.

Wasn't it suspended at the start of Covid?

Yes it was.
As for Turkish Airlines I suppose it's a case of never say never but I think the challenge with Turkish for both Cardiff and Bristol is the capacity they have at Heathrow. If you look at tomorrow they have 6 departures 4 of them wide body aircraft (1A330 300, 1A350 900 & 2 777 300) & 2 A321neo. That's a lot of capacity to fill and tbh both Cardiff and Bristol face the same challenge with other hub airlines as well including ME3. I think from Cardiffs point of view if there's a route development fund now available that could help attracting that type of airline that might help.

 

[Jerry]

"It comes after a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that the Welsh Government, Cardiff Airport and Qatar Airways have been in correspondence about the planned resumption of the long-haul service. However, the Government has refused to release any of the documents, citing commercial confidentiality"

Tories criticise Cardiff Airport funding as Qatar Airways talks continue - Herald.Wales

THE WELSH Conservatives have renewed criticism of the Labour Government’s continued public subsidy of Cardiff Airport, following confirmation that talks

www.herald.wales

 

[Aviador]

There was a marketing agreement between Qatar Airways and the Welsh government to promote Wales both sides committed some money though the Welsh government the most.

Yes it was.
As for Turkish Airlines I suppose it's a case of never say never but I think the challenge with Turkish for both Cardiff and Bristol is the capacity they have at Heathrow. If you look at tomorrow they have 6 departures 4 of them wide body aircraft (1A330 300, 1A350 900 & 2 777 300) & 2 A321neo. That's a lot of capacity to fill and tbh both Cardiff and Bristol face the same challenge with other hub airlines as well including ME3. I think from Cardiffs point of view if there's a route development fund now available that could help attracting that type of airline that might help.

Similarly to the route development thread on the Leeds forum, the difference is although they operate their own flights from London they also have heavy competition there too. Opening local bases gives whoever takes the plunge an advantage as they will have very little if any competition locally. Basically it would represent a chance to dominate an underserved market while supporting the regional economic ambitions. It would offer a chance to build a loyal passenger base in a key regional growth area. Similar could be said for Bristol too so it's up to CWL users to support the idea.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

6 years is a long time and a lot can change. In terms of ME demand these are the 2019 vs 2024 figures

Dubai
2019 - 6,231,898 // 2024 - 6,184,981
Doha
2019 - 2,451,924 // 2024 - 3,593,471

Obviously these figures aren't specific to just Emirates and Qatar Airways, but there's been a big surge in people travelling to or transiting through Doha from the UK. That could be a good sign that demand has increased since QR last operated from CWL.
In terms of Doha some passenger number comparisons by Airport
LHR
2019 - 1,264,687 // 2024 - 2,006,096 (+741,409)
LGW -
2019 - 372,378 // 2024 - 352,817 (-19,561)
MAN
2019 - 417,991 // 2024 - 688,835 (+270,844)
BHX
2019 - 132,159 // 2024 - 171,996 (+39,837)
CWL
2019 - 90,679
2018 - 55,568

 

[Aviador]

And yes a passenger using CWL on a Doha route might mean less using the Qatar LHR option, but it also means they won't be using Emirates or one of the other airlines from LHR either.

 

[Jerry]

And yes a passenger using CWL on a Doha route might mean less using the Qatar LHR option, but it also means they won't be using Emirates or one of the other airlines from LHR either.

Well i suppose for any airline no matter the regional airport that'll be more their thinking in whether they can attract other carriers passengers rather than dilute their own

I do personally remain sceptical that Qatar Airways will return though and find it annoying that when you ask about airlines and whether they are talking to them they say that's down to the airport and not them yet they are talking to airlines.

I do personally remain sceptical that Qatar Airways will return though and find it annoying that when you ask about airlines and whether they are talking to them they say that's down to the airport and not them yet they are talking to airlines.

 

[Qing4theloo]

Having skimmed through this thread I see that Qatar were running a Boeing 787-8 on this service, and getting load factors of around 50%. This clearly is not going to make any money.
Use a smaller plane, perhaps?
There's a lot of excitement around about running shorter long haul with the A321LR and XLR variants. According to the figures, the runway at CWL is long enough for a A321LR at almost MTOW, so I wonder whether this could be an option for Qatar (or somebody else) to restore a service to DOH/DXB/AUH?
I see even the oft-overlooked A220-100 has the range (CWL-DOH is about 3000 nm). Fuel economy comparable with the first generation Embraer E-jets.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Having skimmed through this thread I see that Qatar were running a Boeing 787-8 on this service, and getting load factors of around 50%. This clearly is not going to make any money.
Use a smaller plane, perhaps?
There's a lot of excitement around about running shorter long haul with the A321LR and XLR variants. According to the figures, the runway at CWL is long enough for a A321LR at almost MTOW, so I wonder whether this could be an option for Qatar (or somebody else) to restore a service to DOH/DXB/AUH?
I see even the oft-overlooked A220-100 has the range (CWL-DOH is about 3000 nm). Fuel economy comparable with the first generation Embraer E-jets.

Really cannot see Qatar coming back to CWL.
BHX runs 95% LF and they are relucant to add capacity as they have lots of capacity at LHR and MAN
I am sure CWL LF of 50% would improve but really cannot see that Qatar will be coming back.

 

[Jerry]

Having skimmed through this thread I see that Qatar were running a Boeing 787-8 on this service, and getting load factors of around 50%. This clearly is not going to make any money.

Depends on the returns they were getting though also we gotta remember that Qatar operate a hub system and will seek passengers to feed into that.
Sadly though I have to agree with Ian in that I don't see Qatar Airways returning. Which though sad isn't the end of the world for Cardiff Airport and tbh getting them to return shouldn't be a priority for Cardiffs management or the Welsh government.