Flying in the Gulf
 

Anyone got info. on Qatar Airways and life in Doha for a family. The guide books can't
agree.....'dullest place on earth' or 'the best kept secret in the Gulf'.
Which is it you sand lovers ?

Firstly I will make it clear that I do not work for Qatar before anyone says I have got my facts wrong.

QR are expanding at a fast pace. A steady fleet of 320s and 300s. They are replacing the 300s with 330s and they have the 380 on order (which is making them build a new airport at Doha, and I recall reading that the Airline has bought the airport in preparation for this redevelopment!!!!!!!). They want to expand into the Cargo market and they anticipate operating a few 300s in an all cargo operation in the years to come. To cap it all off they have bought a A319CJ in a all First Class config, which will be transferred onto Qatar's AOC in a few months, after it has done a short stint with the Amiri Flight.

They have a varied route network which seems to be slowly expanding with some interesting destinations. The Maldives I heard was the latest addition which does sound rather nice.

Some are saying that the management think that they are the next Emirates!!!!!

They seem to be doing a bit of recruiting since they are advertising now and again for drivers in Flight.

Unfortunately there seems to be a few past posts in which fellow PPRuNers do not seem to hold the CEO and his colleagues in high regard and it seems that a few people seem to question the general management.

I would be interested to see what the latest gossip is from those who are in Doha so speak up you Qatari drivers!!!!!!!!!

If you do apply to them then I wish you all the best!

MG

[ 12 August 2001: Message edited by: Mister Geezer ]

Yes,I'm on the other side of the Flight Deck door and have just replied to your life in Doha question...
Purely and simply...demotions and terminations are rife and often without reason...
I have just"left"QR because I applied for compassionate leave(my mother has since passed away).Although I was assured this was not the reason,I was given NO other reason apart from the fact that some other cabin crew ran to the office mouthing off(I was a supervisor)...
Tread very carefully!
Good luck! :confused: :mad:

In light of the recent recruitment drive by Qatar Airways you may be interested in the following. I’m sure some of you are thinking about the move from Europe to Qatar. The current situation at the airline and in Doha as I see it…
Firstly an important reason for going to work in the first place, money. Captain’s salary at Qatar Airways is between 27000 and 28000 Qatari Riyals per month including housing, transport, and flight duty pay, First Officer’s pay 21000 – 22000 Qatari Riyals per month all-inclusive. 1 USD = 3.65 Qatari Riyals fixed rate

Housing allowance is 4400 Qatari Riyals per month. If your moving to Doha with your family expect to pay at least 5000 – 6000 Qatari Riyals per month for a decent villa in a compound with pool, clubhouse, some trees, grass, etc… and at least anything from 20000 Qatari Riyals upwards if your going to furnish it from scratch. There is absolutely no support from the airline as regards assistance with finding housing, so while your busy with all your initial CRM, SEP, Simulator courses, living and working in a new culture etc…during your first month here you’ll also be totally on your own in your dealings with real estate agents, an industry in Qatar which requires no licence and is 100 per cent unregulated. A lot of crews are living in very average accommodation by European standards because of the high costs of housing. Water, Electricity and Telephone are all more expensive than Europe plus the national telephone company Q-Tel is without doubt one of the most disorganised, inefficient, incompetent companies you will ever have the misfortune to deal with.


Lifestyle in Doha is quiet, very safe with low crime rates, supermarkets are abundant and well stocked with prices pretty much the same as Europe. Education for the kids is to a good standard but again very expensive and not adequately provided for by the airline. Socially there are no dedicated nightclubs or pubs, most socialising is done in people’s homes or at the handful of hotel bars dotted around the city. Restaurants are varied and good value although alcohol is not permitted for sale or consumption at any of these. Sporting facilities are adequate with water sports, golf, and tennis being especially well catered for, but if you come here expecting Dubai FORGET IT!

Flight operations management has seen some personnel changes in the past 8 months. This department is now headed by Captain David Fleming formerly British Airways and since his arrival ETOPS and LVP operations have been put in place with crew training currently taking place for both, there has also been a very positive upgrading of senior First Officers to Captains. There has been some reluctance in accepting the changes brought in by Fleming and his team with resignations and a particularly nasty anonymous newsletter circulated throughout the department criticising the changes and personally insulting some of the new management. An uneasy feeling pervades the Flight Operations department at the moment wondering how long Fleming and his European style of management will stay in place, how long he is prepared to stay in place or how long he will be let stay in place…

The airlines CEO Akbar Al Baker continues to sack and demote staff at will particularly in the cabin crew department, one of his latest high profile terminations has been the sacking of the airlines Chief of Crewing, a man held in very high regard by most who worked with him and who wasn’t allowed to leave the country on a Qatar Airways aircraft. A recent Lufthansa audit of the airline has blamed Al Baker’s interference and style of management to be the root cause of a lot of the airlines problems and has led to Lufthansa terminating its code share agreement with the airline.

Expect a lot of night flying particularly short haul on the A320. All flights to the Indian subcontinent depart between 2145 and 0240 with the normal 1-hour turnaround, arriving back to Doha between 0600 and 1040. This type of flying is also mixed with day and evening flights around the Gulf and Middle East in any single roster period (1 month), tiredness and fatigue are a common complaint among particularly A320 crews.

These are just some facts hope it helps. Doha is most defiantly not the worst place in the world, there is however a lot of talk about further development of both the country and the airline, at the moment it’s all on paper and again Dubai is defiantly isn’t. Being married with kids and coming to Doha from Europe with the current salary and conditions available at the moment… well it’s just not worth it… unless you’re stuck…

you fail to mention that Qatar is a tax-free country and while expat housing can be expensive, it all comes down to the amount you feel you want to save.

Doing the calculations from your salary indicators, one still comes out with far more than UK salaries (after tax) and a reasonable climate, if you like sun and sand.

A few years in Doha can put some bread in the bank ..... and a little brown-nosing might get you a Managagement position ?

Charlie Lima you must be one sorry excuse of a "professional" my friend. I believe you said and a little brown-nosing might get you a Managagement position ?
Whow, I do wish you do get a job with the Qataries, you certainly deserve them.
:D :o

PS What a great first post on Pprune for you. Welcome and keep us amused