Qatar Airways: What passengers, Gulf travellers need to know

Air travel across the Gulf region and beyond faces major disruption following Arab nations severing ties with Qatar.

Qatar may be hard to find on a map, but its state-owned airline has grown into one of the world’s most recognisable carriers, thanks to big sports-endorsement deals, sparkling new planes and a tough-talking chief executive.

Along with Dubai, home to Emirates Airline, and Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways’ hub, Qatar is a crucial crossroads for global jet setters flying to and from the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.

On Monday, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates — a confederation of emirates that includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi — and a few other countries cut ties to Qatar, including air links for Qatar Airways. They allege the government of Qatar has meddled in their internal affairs and supports Islamic extremists in the region. Qatar denies that.

What does it mean for travellers? Qatar Airways flights to and from US locations such as New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, or European destinations including London, Paris or Geneva, should be largely unaffected. But passengers using the airline’s shiny Doha hub to reach other points in the Middle Eastern, such as Cairo, Riyadh or Dubai, will have to alter travel arrangements.

Some eastbound flights from Doha to Asia and Australia could also take more time since Qatar Airways will now have to fly around airspace of its neighbours.

(Qatar Airways has flown to Australia since 2009 and offers direct flights to four Australian cities from Doha, that includes Doha to Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and a codeshare flight to Cairns.)

A Qatar Airways Airbus A350.

Qatar Airways has already stopped flying to Saudi Arabia. It said it will suspend flights to the U.A.E., Bahrain and Egypt starting Tuesday and “until further notice”. Affected passengers will be granted alternative options and full refunds for unused portions of their flight.

For the airline itself, the bans are a big headache. Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker has tried to steal traffic from rivals Emirates and Etihad, offering cheap tickets to lure passengers to fly between the U.A.E. and the U.S. and Europe, via the three-year old Hamad International Airport, built to handle 30 million passengers per year.

Qatar Airways, founded 20 years ago, still trails Emirates Airline, the world’s largest carrier by international traffic. Still, it flies more than 150 routes, with a fleet of more than 170 Boeing Co. and Airbus SE jetliners, making it one of the world’s biggest purchasers of big jets. Mr Al Baker is well-known in aviation circles for his cajoling and frank criticism of both plane makers, chiding them publicly for delivery delays and quality problems.

Mr Al Baker has raised the airlines profile with a number of big sponsorship deals, including with soccer club FC Barcelona and the 2018 and 2022 soccer World Cup. Qatar Airways prides itself for lavishing amenities on passengers and for its position in the elite club of 5-star rated airlines, the top level in the Skytrax ranking system.

What Qatar Airways passengers need to know?

 

Q: Will all flights to/from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt be cancelled?

A: Qatar Airways flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been cancelled on June 5, 2017, and to the UAE, the Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt as of June 6, 2017, until further notice.

Passengers holding a confirmed Qatar Airways ticket to any of the four countries between June 5 2017 — July 6 2017 are permitted to rebook their flights up to 30 days after their current confirmed departure date, one time free of charge. Passengers will also be permitted to refund the unused portion of their tickets booked for the above period once, free of charge. The service fee remains non-refundable.

Q: Can Qatar Airways fly over Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt?

A: Qatar Airways says its flights will not enter the airspace of these four countries.

Q: Will flights to Europe and the Americas be affected in any way?

A: These flights are currently not affected. Passengers are advised to contact the airline.

Q: How will passengers transiting through Doha, including from Australia, be affected?

A: The airline says no further travel restrictions have been applied. Current visa requirements (transit and entry visas) must however be respected.

Q: Can passengers transiting through Doha cancel their tickets?

A: Passengers holding confirmed and paid tickets for affected flights will be able to cancel their tickets as above. All other passengers will be able to rebook as per their existing fare conditions.

With Nicolas Parasie

The Wall Street Journal

Some flights to and from Australia via Doha may take longer because of air space requirement changes.