Qatar Airways ready to launch Manchester service

Qatar Airways is due to launch non-stop services to Manchester Airport, England, from Doha on April 2nd. Qatar Airways will operate to the UK’s North West gateway four times a week, taking its schedule to Britain from 11 flights to 15 a week. The carrier currently operates 11 flights a week from Doha to London Heathrow.

"This is an exciting development for Manchester Airport," said Councillor  Brian Harrison, Chairman of Manchester Airport. "This service will make the Middle East more accessible from the North of England and offer UK outbound passengers the ability to fly on with Qatar Airways to other international destinations."

Despite tensions in the Gulf, Qatar Airways has reconfirmed its commitment to launching the Doha-Manchester service.

"Qatar Airways has been flying since hostilities began and Doha International Airport has remained open. This year is crucial to the development of Qatar Airways, both in terms of the rapid development of its route network and its planned fleet expansion," said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways. "We cannot be deflected from this strategy,  which has been drafted to ensure our status as an international carrier headquartered in the Gulf, and a quality service provider whose success is inextricably linked to the future development of the state whose name and flag it carries."

Manchester will become Qatar Airways’ 40th destination with the carrier committed to flying to 50 destinations by the end of 2003.

Qatar Airways’, which currently operates 43 flights a week from the UAE, will operate flights to Doha from Abu Dhabi and Dubai which will link in with the non-stop service to Manchester.

Qatar Airways will operate to Manchester from Dubai every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays flight QR115 will leave Dubai International Airport at 23.45, arriving in Doha for the connecting non-stop flight to Manchester – QR41 – which leaves at 01.25 every Wednesday and Sunday arriving in Manchester at 06.25.

On Mondays and Thursdays, flight QR101 departs Dubai International at 10.30am arriving in Doha for the connecting flight to Manchester – QR043 – which departs Doha International at 12.35 and arrives Manchester 17.55. 

Qatar Airways’ service from Abu Dhabi to Manchester will operate four times a week. On Mondays and Thursdays, flight QR125 will leave Abu Dhabi International at 10.55am for the flight to Doha and the connecting QR043 service to Manchester.

On Saturdays and Tuesdays, flight QR129 will leave Abu Dhabi at 23.40 for the connecting Doha-Manchester QR041.

Qatar Airways will initially use a twin-engined, wide-bodied Airbus A300-600R aircraft on its Doha-Manchester route, with 224 seats in a three-class configuration. The service will have 12 seats in First Class, 18 in Business Class and 194 in Economy.