From the Jeddah press release….
bmi will also commence a daily service to Doha from Heathrow in the Summer of 2006. The service will commence on 26 March and, subject to government approval, will be operated under a wet lease agreement with Qatar Airways. At the same time bmi’s existing codeshare agrement with Qatar Airways will be expanded to allow bmi to sell Qatar Airways flights from Heathrow to Doha under bmi’s flight code. This will further consolidate the presence of bmi at both Heathrow and in the Gulf region and mark another major step in the global reach of the airline.
So is it BD or QR operating the route?
Strange!
By: Skymonster - 8th December 2005 at 23:03
Why dont Qatar operate this service in this own right with a BD codeshare? Would make far more sense
BD have no capacity – their 3 A330s are tied up with LHR-BOM, LHR-JED and RUH, and MAN-ORD. My take on all this is that QR want an extra schedule to LHR but can’t get the slots, and likely the bilateral won’t support it either. So BD wet lease the a/c from QR (much like the FI 757, albeit that was on a damp lease) and start their own service to DOH – and probably QR underwrite quite a lot of the risk in the service and BD make a bob or two by effectively giving QR access to two of its LHR slots.
A
By: Mark L - 8th December 2005 at 21:21
Why dont Qatar operate this service in this own right with a BD codeshare? Would make far more sense
They are. The aircraft and crew are being provided by Qatar, bmi just get to sell seats on it. bmi are just making it out to be a much bigger deal than it actualy is.
By: Humberside - 8th December 2005 at 18:56
Why dont Qatar operate this service in this own right with a BD codeshare? Would make far more sense
And if BD wish to increase long haul services from LHR, codeshares with the likes of SQ, SAA, ANA and Thai would go a long way to helping them achieve that
By: zoot horn rollo - 8th December 2005 at 17:47
I went out this time last year on QR to DOH in business class in a newly delivered A333. Excellent, and the flight attendant remembered me on the way back. One of the best flights I have been on.
By: RIPConcorde - 8th December 2005 at 17:08
It’s going to be a wet-leased Qatar A333 apparently. Not quite sure what the point of this is… :confused: It’s turning into a cliche, but this is bmi we’re talking about so I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised. 😉
By: bmi-star - 8th December 2005 at 16:47
No, sounds very complicated indeed….as you told me Mark…this is bmi were talking about
By: Mark L - 8th December 2005 at 16:43
I read that as bmi wet leasing a Qatar aircraft, but its not worded very clearly.
By: bmi-star - 8th December 2005 at 16:40
Had a horrilbe thought!
If bmi operate the route, does this mean that the final MAN A330, will have to move down to LHR by March. Or will they look towards another A330. I blooin hope that the A330 wont leave MAN for good, or my USA trip will be ruined!
By: bmi-star - 8th December 2005 at 16:27
OK…and sorry the “bi” won’t change :p
That’s what you think, matey……. 😀
GA
By: mmemovements - 8th December 2005 at 16:25
Well it sounds like Qatar want to expand the route, but don’t have the aircraft, bmi have been looking at the route……therefore bmi have decided to team up with Qatar and they will operate the route both for themselves and Qatar
Scott
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December 8, 2005 at 4:24 pm