The Qatar connection

(eTN) – Qatar Airways may not be as big as its bigger brother to the south, Emirates, but that may not be such a bad thing.

(eTN) – Qatar Airways may not be as big as its bigger brother to the south, Emirates, but that may not be such a bad thing. With a new airport in Doha due to come online shortly, as well as being an operator of Boeing’s new Dreamliner, the future is rosy for the Qatar-based airline. Qatar Airwaysโ€™ approach to growth, albeit more conservative, will pay off in the long run.

A year ago I had flown Qatar Airways and did so out of sheer practicality. I reside in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and have to travel extensively to the USA and Europe. Their Doha hub offers seamless and timely connections without the exasperating congestion, air traffic control delays, and crowded terminals that is normal for Dubai at peak times.

On a recent trip this year, Chicago was my departure point from the USA. I thought I would avail myself of their new service which is non-stop to Doha with a 1:35 minute transit time for my connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur. At the present time, there is no quicker connection from Chicago to SE Asia, at least not to Kuala Lumpur. The flight was only launched a few weeks ago and operates three times a week with an intention to be daily by June 15. According to Chicago-based area Manager, Frank Laurie, the load factors have been positive despite the lack of frequency, and he sees a definite interest from the business community to populate the front end of the aircraft once the flight becomes daily.

CEO, Akbar Al Baker, of Qatar Airways, said: “Opening services to Chicago is a tremendous step for Qatar Airways marking our fourth gateway in the US. We are looking forward to connecting the Midwest to the Middle East and beyond.

โ€œWith the Chicago route going daily from June 15 and our presence here for more than two years through dedicated freighter services, it clearly demonstrates Qatar Airwaysโ€™ commitment to this key city.

โ€œThe economic benefits will extend to key regional industries as well โ€“ engineering, education, and commodities trading in particular.โ€

On a purely practical note Qatar Airways offers some of the most efficient connections to the United States from Southeast Asia. I was not able to find better connections to the East Coast or to Chicago on any other airline. On both the outbound and inbound to Kuala Lumpur my layovers in the Doha hub never exceeded two hours.

Qatar Airways consistently gets high marks for its “Five-star Service.โ€

I was able to experience this first hand in their award-winning business class cabin. With a two-two-two seat configuration, all passengers have either an aisle or a window. This is a blessing on the marathon 12-hour-plus flights.

The cabin crews are gracious and offer an overwhelming array of amenities, even before the flight leaves the ground. In-flight service, food, and wines are unparalleled.

Dohaโ€™s Premium Terminal acts as a separate, self-contained airport for the fabulously rich and famous, with its own duty-free shopping area, self-service check-in kiosks, and dedicated e-gates to speed up immigration formalities. Reserved for first and business class travelers on Qatar Airways, passengers are privy to a personal chauffeur who will shuttle them to and from their plane. After being greeted by a concierge, visitors can choose between an array of five-star dining options such as hot and cold Arabic and international cuisine, unwind in a spa and Jacuzzi, or get a massage.

On a technical note, Qatar Airwaysโ€™ five Dreamliners are being modified to conform to the international safety requirements for the power units and will back flying in the near future. Once complete, the airline will be on track in its ever-expanding network.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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