Despite long-haul flights being the money makers for the Middle Eastern airlines, such as Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad, short-haul hops between the Gulf countries are just as important. They allow intercepting and divert traffic away from competitors. And that’s why Qatar Airways is prioritizing resuming its flights between Doha and Abu Dhabi.
In this post:
- Qatar Airways Resumes Doha Abu Dhabi Flights
- Avoiding Etihad Taking Over The Slots
- Flight times and the all-important aircraft difference
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Qatar Airways Resumes Doha Abu Dhabi Flights
Following two months and more that have been pure mayhem for the global aviation industry and all the more for the Middle Eastern aviation industry, Qatar Airways is trying to return to a status of normal operations.
To do so, the Doha-based airline is resuming its regional connections. The latest flight reactivated is Doha to Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE.
Qatar Airways is resuming two daily flights between its hub and Abu Dhabi, specifically flight numbers:
- QR1044
- QR1054
These flights were suspended during the closure of the air space in the Middle East and are the historical slots that the airline held at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Avoiding Etihad Taking Over The Slots
Resuming these two flights, which are the morning, early morning, and evening operations between Doha and Abu Dhabi, is strategically important for two reasons.
- Qatar Airways can now intercept demand originating or destined for the UAE, connecting passengers seamlessly in Doha diverting them away from competitors such as Etihad.
- Secondly, it avoids that Etihad might take over those unused slots and further strengthen its position in the Middle East and drive Qatar Airways out of important departure times in Abu Dhabi.
Flight times and the all-important aircraft difference
As mentioned, these are an early morning and an evening departure flights connecting Doha and Abu Dhabi. They are extremely important for Qatar Airways as they provide feeder traffic to the long-haul services.
| Flight Number | Departure Airport | Airport Code | Departure Time | Arrival Airport | Airport Code | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QR1044 | Doha | DOH | 02:15 | Abu Dhabi | AUH | 04:25 |
| QR1045 | Abu Dhabi | AUH | 05:45 | Doha | DOH | 05:55 |
| Flight Number | Departure Airport | Airport Code | Departure Time | Arrival Airport | Airport Code | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QR1054 | Doha | DOH | 20:10 | Abu Dhabi | AUH | 22:20 |
| QR1055 | Abu Dhabi | AUH | 23:50 | Doha | DOH | 23:55 |
Now there is a significant difference in the aircraft type that operates these two flights.
Generally, the morning flight is always served using an Airbus A320 family aircraft, which does have a dedicated business class, but it is just recliner seats.
The evening service, on the other hand, often is served using a wide-body aircraft. What that means is that you get a fully lie-flat bed, which you won’t be able to use for that long, considering how short the flight actually is.
However, that might be something that you want to consider if you are redeeming the flight with points and are looking to get the biggest bang for your buck.