Summary
- Qatar Airways has submitted a slot request for flights to Cardiff Airport, indicating a possible return to the airport after suspending service because of the pandemic.
- The return of Qatar Airways would offer a much-needed boost to Cardiff Airport and the encircling region, with Vale of Glamorgan MP highlighting its importance.
- If approved, the route between Hamad International Airport and Cardiff Airport would open up recent one-stop connections across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and beyond.
Discussions between Qatar Airways and Cardiff Airport (CWL) have been ongoing in recent months, however the carrier’s return to the airport is now looking increasingly likely, after submitting a slot request with the UK’s Airport Coordination Ltd.
The carrier has requested 4 weekly slots on the airport, starting on December 18th, 2023. If approved, the route would operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, between Qatar Airways’ hub at Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Cardiff Airport. Flights are expected to be operated by Boeing 787.
Photo: Bagaskara Lazuardi | Shutterstock
The return of Qatar Airways would bring a great addition to Cardiff Airport and the encircling region. Last month, Vale of Glamorgan MP, Alun Cairns, called the route a “vital” connection to the Middle East, and went on to spotlight its importance to the airport, saying,
“The pandemic clearly had an impact on the airline industry, but I’m hopeful that with the return of Qatar Airways to Cardiff will provide an enormous boost to the airport that has suffered in recent times.”
Limited international connections
Qatar Airways first flew to Cardiff in May 2018, and operated the service for just below two years, before pulling it initially of the pandemic. At its launch, the route became the airport’s first long-haul service for the reason that demise of the Canadian low-cost carrier Zoom Airlines.
Photo: Dragunov | Shutterstock
Customers wishing to fly to long-haul destinations from Cardiff currently have the choice of traveling with KLM via its hub at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). Qatar Airways’ planned path to Doha will open up a number of recent, one-stop connections across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and beyond.
Qatar Airways’ sixth UK destination
If Qatar Airways’s path to Cardiff involves fruition, it should change into the airline’s sixth destination within the UK. After resuming day by day flights to Birmingham earlier this month, Qatar Airways currently flies to the next UK airports:
- London Heathrow (LHR) – 6x day by day
- Manchester (MAN) – 2-3x day by day
- London Gatwick (LGW) – 2x day by day
- Edinburgh (EDI) – 2x day by day
- Birmingham (BHX) – 1x day by day
The Boeing 787 is the right aircraft for long, thin routes reminiscent of Doha to Cardiff. The newest data from ch-aviation shows that Qatar Airways currently has a complete of 41 787s in its fleet. These consist of 30 787-8s and 11 787-9s, carrying a complete of 254 and 311 passengers, respectively.
Qatar Airways
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- QR/QTR
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Doha Hamad International Airport
- Yr Founded:
- 1993
- Alliance:
- oneworld
- CEO:
- Akbar Al Baker
- Country:
- Qatar