Has the Doha hub been reorganised following the isolation of Qatar and the rerouting of flights via new air routes? Have connections suffered? Have passenger transfers and general passenger traffic been affected?
Salam Al Shawa - Apart from the four countries we no longer serve, the vast majority of our flights continued to operate normally after the illegal blocking from the beginning of June 2017, without any disruption to the flight schedule or routes. As we are constantly working to optimise our flights for maximum efficiency, the impact on flight times has been minimal.
Our passenger traffic continues to strengthen as we accelerate route launches to new destinations, with Hamad International Airport welcoming more than 38 million passengers a year.
Did some markets suffer as a result of the events in June, notably with longer flight times?
S. A. S. - In fact, we only recorded an increase in flight times to three destinations: Sao Paulo, Khartoum and Lagosout of a total of more than 150. Qatar Airways' other destinations suffered little or no delay, with 90% of our flights continuing to depart on time. Flights to Europe and the United States, as well as those to Asia, maintained the same routes and flight times as before the events of June.
Which countries is Qatar Airways redeploying to, to compensate for the loss of capacity in the Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia?
S. A. S. - Our strategy is to continue our expansion, but it is now being carried out on a broader scale. accelerated basisWith new launches and frequency increases announced almost every week. We have just added extra flights to Kiev, Prague and Sohar (Oman) in August and are also increasing our frequencies on routes such as Colombo, Moscow, Ho Chi Minh City and Krabi. We have also inaugurated a non-stop flight to Hanoi. In December, we will be starting a new route to Chiang Mai. We will be offering 60 weekly frequencies to Thailand.
This year we are launching our new business class, a revolutionary product worthy of a first class airline.
Is premium traffic more affected by economic uncertainty?
S. A. S. - Our premium traffic remains robust and continues to grow. In fact, passengers have voted our business class as the best in the world. best business class in the world at the Skytrax Awards 2017. This year we are launching our new business classa revolutionary product worthy of first business class, called "Qsuite. We will be offering a double bed, the first of its kind in business. Removable panels allow passengers to create a private space over four seats and transform it into a convivial place to share with family, friends or colleagues. This will allow our passengers to work, dine and socialise. Finally, these new features make it possible to create an environment tailored to the unique needs of each passenger.
What do you expect from the newQatar government eases visa requirements ? Could this be a real boost for passenger flows?
S. A. S. - Recent changes to visa regulations for Qatar will strengthen the appeal of the destination as a business and leisure centre. We are becoming a leader in our policy of opening up to visitors in the region. In fact, Qatar has been emerging for several years as a sports events and exhibitions centreIt will also host world-class events such as the World Handball Championships, not to mention the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World CupQatar Airways is proud to play a leading role in connecting the world to Qatar.
What's the atmosphere like at Doha Hamad International airport?The atmosphere at Doha airport is completely normal, three months after the suspension of services to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The flow of transfer passengers is constant, and Qatar Airways' huge Business and First Class lounges are full of passengers resting, having lunch or watching television. " The impact of the ban on traffic was relatively short-lived. It's true that we have lost a significant share of traffic with the closure of routes to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, which accounted for almost 20% of total passengers. But we are seeing a significant increase in travel by Qatari customers. Qatar Airways has also significantly increased its frequencies to Asia and Europe, which is stimulating connecting traffic. "says Nina Matthews, from the airport's public relations department. However, aviation experts believe that Doha should, in the short term lose 25% of its passenger movements. According to the statistics provided by the airport authorities, Hamad International Airport welcomed the following passengers in the first half of the year 19 million passengersThis represents an increase of 8% over the same period in 2016. The blockade on Qatar is not yet reflected in this figure, as it occurred in the second week of the month. According to airport statistics for 2016, the routes Doha-Dubai and Doha-Bahrain were part of the five busiest routes of the hub. By country, the Emirates represented the leading air market, along with Qatar, while Saudi Arabia came third. The Middle East accounted for 22% of all passenger movements in 2016. But there is some good news. Following a complaint by Qatar to theWorld Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO-ICAO), Bahrain, the Emirates and Egypt have been ordered to open an air corridor for Qatari aircraft, the three countries being signatories to an international agreement obliging them to ensure that aircraft fly over their territories in air corridors. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is not a signatory to this agreement. Nevertheless, a temporary air corridor has been created towards Qatar, allowing Qatar Airways aircraft to shorten their flight time. |
