Qatar Airways To Start Flying Doha-Phuket Mid-October

[Ricardo]

I just got an email from Qatar Airways, saying that they're starting flying DOH-HKT direct, from 11th October onwards, which may help people heading to/from Europe to avoid Swampy and save time/hassle.

The aircraft is scheduled to be an A330-200, and flight times were dep DOH 01.50 arr HKT 15.55 & dep HKT 17.35 arr DOH 23.30 returning.

For some years, I've been hoping that the Gulf-based airlines might try-out other popular Thai destinations, apart from Bangkok, looks like it might now actually happen at last !

[gotlost]

A very smart move for Qatar Air.

[hawksway]

It had to happen and the movewas bound to be by a Miidle East Carrier with established transfer traffic fromand to Europe. Other airlines will be waiting to see if sufficient fat remains on the table. Direct flights to Europe though are unlikely as Phuket's runway length will currently not support wide body operations without a technical stop enroute for re-fuelling.

[fft100]

The times given by the OP dont make sense for direct flights between Phuket and Doha.

However, the original press release from Qatar in June said it was NOT direct, which would explain the times. No plane change, just a stop.

"The Doha-based airline will phase in the route expansion over a four-month period with daily flights to Phuket – after Bangkok, its second destination in Thailand – kicking off the growth drive on October 11. The new flights will operate via Kuala Lumpur."

and looking at the qatar airways website and doing a trial booking, shows 1 stop (in both directions) and a time of 10.15 hours in both directions. Still good for Phuket based people though as luggage can be checked through.

Edited September 5, 2010 by fft100

[bkkjames]

Sounds like the phuket flight is just an extension after / before bangkok for the previously mentioned weight / fuel/ runway reasons?

[Ricardo]

The times given by the OP dont make sense for direct flights between Phuket and Doha.

However, the original press release from Qatar in June said it was NOT direct, which would explain the times. No plane change, just a stop.

"The Doha-based airline will phase in the route expansion over a four-month period with daily flights to Phuket – after Bangkok, its second destination in Thailand – kicking off the growth drive on October 11. The new flights will operate via Kuala Lumpur."

and looking at the qatar airways website and doing a trial booking, shows 1 stop (in both directions) and a time of 10.15 hours in both directions. Still good for Phuket based people though as luggage can be checked through.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Looking again, the QR-website says there is "1 technical stop" each way, and now gives the start-date as 12th October (not 11th), this sort of chopping-and-changing is fairly-familiar with Qatar, unfortunately.

[fft100]

Sounds like the phuket flight is just an extension after / before bangkok for the previously mentioned weight / fuel/ runway reasons?

if you read the post above yours, you would see it goes via KL.

Edited September 6, 2010 by fft100