Qatar Airways A330 at Barcelona?

[AVIACO]

Just curious and out of interest..................

Anyone have any idea why QR's A330 A7-ACA was spotted on the ground at Barcelona a week ago (27th September to be precise)?

I can only imagine a diversion due to a problem at the origin or destination airport, but BCN seems a bit out of the way to be a diversion choice for MAN, CDG or LHR (the only three European destinations where QR operates the A330)

Perhaps this was around the time of the fuel strike at LHR????? Even so, BCN would be a strange and very far Westerly fuel stop, given that the company operates into FRA, MUC, MXP, FCO and VIE, which are all far closer to the DOH-LHR-DOH track.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks

AVIACO

[Qatari515]

The aircraft was there to bring back the spanish motorcycle team on a chartered flight.

The team was expected here for the MotoGP of Qatar. They won that as well.

A week before another 330 picked them up.

This is not unusual for QR, when it is time for the world famous "tour of qatar" they send chartered airlcraft everywhere to pick cycling teams..

[AVIACO]

I see. Thanks Qatari. That explains it all. May also explain why some other timetabled sectors were downgraded to the trusty A300 recently too, such as a recent CMB sector!

[Qatari515]

Thats one of the reasons plus the fact that alot of new routes are comming on 330 together with a huge shortage of training staff on 330 resulting in crew shortage etc etc etc