New competition for Qatar Airways?
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New competition for Qatar Airways?
Well we shall see............
Air France resumes Doha-Paris flights
Doha: Air France resumed flights on Thursday between Doha and Paris, becoming the only European airline to fly to and from Doha non-stop after almost a decade the carrier stopped serving the route.
“The carrier was in a bad shape in the early 90s and we decided to discontinue our flights to a number of destinations, including Doha, as it could no more afford to operate them, Jean Claude Cros, Air France senior vice-president, told The Peninsula at a ceremony held at Doha International Airport to mark the Air France inaugural flight.
He said the carrier was returning to Qatar, a route it had served continuously for almost twenty years because of the country’s excellent perspectives in terms of oil and gas business, the current economic boom, as well as the important future development projects in tourism and cultural activities in the country.
Michel Hidalgo, former coach of the French national team and Henri Biancheri, general manger of the famous French club AS Monaco, gave the kick off of the two non-stop weekly flights.
Also present on the occasion were Sheikh Hamad Bin Suheim Al Thani, Minister of State, Alain Azouaou, French Ambassador to Qatar, Bernard Bazot, Air France General Manager Middle East, and Saeed Al Hajri, General Manager of Ali Bin Ali, the general sales agent of Air France.
Cros also said that the airline had now recovered and was innovating by launching Dedicate, a new service featuring scheduled routes and direct flights to some of the emerging oil and gas markets, easing travel for professionals to the key areas of economic activity.
He said Air France in the Middle East would be offering this month two Dedicate destinations, including Doha and Kuwait, where a whole array of French and international companies operate due to large-scale infrastructure requirements.
“The launch of this flight is not just aimed at serving Doha and Paris routes, but to connect the flight beyond Paris with other destinations all over the world”, he said.
Besides, Air France and KLM are joining forces to become the largest airline group in the world in terms of revenue, and customers will benefit from more flights and departure times as well as extended facilities and perks.
The flights from Doha to Paris, scheduled on Thursdays and Sundays, from Paris to Doha on Wednesdays and Saturdays, will be operated using 82-seat Airbus A319 offering l’Espace Affaires (business) and Tempo (economy) cabins.
Air France resumes Doha-Paris flights
Doha: Air France resumed flights on Thursday between Doha and Paris, becoming the only European airline to fly to and from Doha non-stop after almost a decade the carrier stopped serving the route.
“The carrier was in a bad shape in the early 90s and we decided to discontinue our flights to a number of destinations, including Doha, as it could no more afford to operate them, Jean Claude Cros, Air France senior vice-president, told The Peninsula at a ceremony held at Doha International Airport to mark the Air France inaugural flight.
He said the carrier was returning to Qatar, a route it had served continuously for almost twenty years because of the country’s excellent perspectives in terms of oil and gas business, the current economic boom, as well as the important future development projects in tourism and cultural activities in the country.
Michel Hidalgo, former coach of the French national team and Henri Biancheri, general manger of the famous French club AS Monaco, gave the kick off of the two non-stop weekly flights.
Also present on the occasion were Sheikh Hamad Bin Suheim Al Thani, Minister of State, Alain Azouaou, French Ambassador to Qatar, Bernard Bazot, Air France General Manager Middle East, and Saeed Al Hajri, General Manager of Ali Bin Ali, the general sales agent of Air France.
Cros also said that the airline had now recovered and was innovating by launching Dedicate, a new service featuring scheduled routes and direct flights to some of the emerging oil and gas markets, easing travel for professionals to the key areas of economic activity.
He said Air France in the Middle East would be offering this month two Dedicate destinations, including Doha and Kuwait, where a whole array of French and international companies operate due to large-scale infrastructure requirements.
“The launch of this flight is not just aimed at serving Doha and Paris routes, but to connect the flight beyond Paris with other destinations all over the world”, he said.
Besides, Air France and KLM are joining forces to become the largest airline group in the world in terms of revenue, and customers will benefit from more flights and departure times as well as extended facilities and perks.
The flights from Doha to Paris, scheduled on Thursdays and Sundays, from Paris to Doha on Wednesdays and Saturdays, will be operated using 82-seat Airbus A319 offering l’Espace Affaires (business) and Tempo (economy) cabins.
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Are you the new a300 man? If Air France want to compete on a grossly subsidised route then good luck to them. god only Knows who would want to go to qatar on holiday or use it as a stopover. and how can any airline compete with a government sponsered airline. lets just hope the EU sits up and notices soon.
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Air France (A319LR) is not the only European airline there KLM (763) and British Airways (744) also fly to Doha, how could he make such an ignorant statement.
AF are also back in Iran with a thrice weekly A332, they will later add Kish Island with the A319LR there as well.
AF are also back in Iran with a thrice weekly A332, they will later add Kish Island with the A319LR there as well.
Last edited by newscaster; 20th Jun 2004 at 18:32.
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No! I am not the new A300 man....
Thank you!....QR133 and eal 401
That was the reason why, I mentioned the competition with QR an AF, Non-stop to OTBD
Cheers,
That was the reason why, I mentioned the competition with QR an AF, Non-stop to OTBD
Cheers,
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This is 4ur info newscaster!
To be a news-caster you have to know all the info. before you can even write about it... You fool!
So, next time Do Not post, until you know...! news-dumb-er
happy landings
So, next time Do Not post, until you know...! news-dumb-er
happy landings
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Alas, another reasonably interesting post being turned into an infantile slanging match.......................
I actually woudn't be surprised if the loads are fairly healthy on this new service. QR's CDG loads are consistently "ok" and there is a forecast increase in oil and gas related traffic into the region.
AF may well be doing it at the right time.
I actually woudn't be surprised if the loads are fairly healthy on this new service. QR's CDG loads are consistently "ok" and there is a forecast increase in oil and gas related traffic into the region.
AF may well be doing it at the right time.
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You are right a 300man!!!
Last week's flight from CDG to OTBD reported a very low load though. But, I believe you are quite right! AF is launching their operations at the right time!!! and who knows.. what kind of effects this will bring to QR. I also heard that AF will be offering more competitive fares if you use an outbound or multiple cities connections to other European or Western destinations with the same AF ticket. What do you think?
Do you believe QR might reduce their operations? or code-share flights with AF. Can we compete?
Cheers
4u News-caster thank you! I will consider your advice!
cheers
Do you believe QR might reduce their operations? or code-share flights with AF. Can we compete?
Cheers
4u News-caster thank you! I will consider your advice!
cheers
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Folks - be nice or you'll spend some time in the cooler.
If you feel like cussing each out just send an email or PM it - we don't want to be involved in your petty spat.
4HP
If you feel like cussing each out just send an email or PM it - we don't want to be involved in your petty spat.
4HP
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I hate spending valuable on-line time and cost, scrolling down to read posts like the one immediately above. What's the point chaps?
Anyway, to answer the original question, I would never imagine QR code-sharing with AF, as this would spoil the QR/LH/BD party!!
More interesting I think is the imminent merger between VS and BD and how that newly combined carrier will react to Middle East operations - i.e. aligned with QR (who already co-operates with both) or by doing something entirely new on their own.
I believe that BD already has traffic rights to DOH, JED and DXB??
That would be a more interesting occurence. In the case of competing with AF, QR would simply lower their fares to retain the lion's share of the CDG-DOH biz.
Anyway, to answer the original question, I would never imagine QR code-sharing with AF, as this would spoil the QR/LH/BD party!!
More interesting I think is the imminent merger between VS and BD and how that newly combined carrier will react to Middle East operations - i.e. aligned with QR (who already co-operates with both) or by doing something entirely new on their own.
I believe that BD already has traffic rights to DOH, JED and DXB??
That would be a more interesting occurence. In the case of competing with AF, QR would simply lower their fares to retain the lion's share of the CDG-DOH biz.
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A300 man
Your stament sounds correct! however, I beleive we are in a potential disadvantage with AF. What I perceive is that the locals will rather the premium travel & service with AF than with QR. This can cause a $ profit loss by 2cents seat per mile.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Last edited by jet4hire; 2nd Jul 2004 at 01:33.
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Guys dont get concerned for QR over AF. How many of QR's CDG originating pax actually get offin Doha? 10-15? As with all QR flights from Europe 90% of pax onboard turn left and Q to go thru security and board another QR flight.
OK total/Elf/Fina have some nice front end biz that AF may take but overall the French market is a transit market in Doha...
Probably why AF are ops with A319 vs QR A330 -
OK total/Elf/Fina have some nice front end biz that AF may take but overall the French market is a transit market in Doha...
Probably why AF are ops with A319 vs QR A330 -
