Qatar to MEL & SYD within weeks

[Gerald A]

Baker said Qatar Airways, wich currently flies to 84 destinations, plans to start operations to melbourne and Sydney "within weeks", subject to regulatory approval.

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_...yId=1093247430

[Rhys Xanthis]

They have recently rescheduled a few sin-doh services to a333 from 773 (they were originally a332 iirc), so could be related.

[NickN]

They'd need a 773 for that range wouldn't they? Either that or an A345/6.

[Gerald A]

My money is on the B772LR.

[lloyd fox]

Yes it was mentioned recently that it will be a 772LR on a Qatar media article.
Even though this article says weeks i still believe flights wont start till October 2009.I suppose that is still 20 weeks !!!

[Rhys Xanthis]

Qatar have changed our other cross asia flight to a333 now...

Airbus all the way...A321, A333 (4 secotrs including qf ffs) on qatar, and other flights a320 and q100...

And here I was thinking that I would get my first trip on a 777, not to mention some in seat power

/rant

[Gerald A]

We are extremely excited to enter the new market of Australia with the addition of Sydney and Melbourne, and expanding our presence further in Europe with two more routes.”

Full story link http://www.qatarairways.com/global/e...e-05May09.html

Fleet http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/our-fleet.html


A7-BBA 36012 B777-2DZLR 753 2009 / 02 / 03.
A7-BBB 36013 B777-2DZLR 762 2009 / 02 / 09.
A7-BBC 36015 B777-2DZLR On order
A7-BBD 36016 B777-2DZLR On order
A7-BBE 36017 B777-2DZLR On order
A7-BBF 36018 B777-2DZLR On order

[Erik H. Bakke]

So, the third 200LR operator in Sydney, then.
Are there any airlines operating the 200 (basic, non-ER model) into Sydney these days?

If so, there should be a possibility to get a shot of all 5 passenger variants of the B777 at once.
So far, I've managed to get 4 in one shot. (200ER, 200LR, 300, 300ER)

[matthew mcdonald]

Thai are the only ones to operate their 777-2D7's here and that only happens on very rare occasions.

[Sarah C]

More news to come but 6th December is the official start date:

"Qatar Airways has announced that it will commence its long-awaited Australian services with an inaugural flight on 6th December 2009.CEO Akbar Al Baker confirmed the move at the Paris Airshow, saying the carrier will operate three weekly services using a new Boeing 777-200LR to be delivered to the airline later this year and then moving to daily early in the new year when another B777-200 is received."I know the travelling public is eager for us to begin serving Australia and I've had many people ask me about our direct routes to Melbourne and Sydney. We're finalising some details with regulatory authorities in Australia, and once we've received the necessary aircraft from Boeing, we will be ready to operate," he said.

Source: Travel Daily