Qatar Airways is expanding its European network in Summer 2024 as it adds a further German city and returns to a popular Italian destination. The Doha-based airline announced this week that it would begin flights to Hamburg (HAM), Germany from Jul. 1 and recommence service to Venice, Italy from Jun. 12.
Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Group Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer stated: “As this year comes to an end, we are delighted to present our passengers with new and exciting travel opportunities for the year 2024. Starting with our resumption to Venice and an inaugural flight to Hamburg, Qatar Airways and its hub, Hamad International Airport, continues to position itself on the global map as a leading gateway for international travel and connectivity.”
Hamburg becomes the fifth city in Germany to be operated by the carrier joining Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf. A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will undertake the route from HAM to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH). Qatar Airways anticipates that the northern German city ‘will serve as a gateway to South Africa, Thailand and the Philippines.’
In an interesting scheduling note, the daily flight will depart HAM at different times depending on the day of the week. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will have a 3.40 p.m. departure time (10.40 p.m. arrival into DOH) and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9.20 a.m. (4.20 p.m. arrival). Flights from DOH will depart at 8.35 a.m. arriving at 2.10 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) and depart at 2.15 a.m. arriving at 7.50 a.m. (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is expected to serve the carrier’s return to Venice with a daily flight departing Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) at 4.50 p.m. and arriving in DOH at 11.10 p.m.. The DOH-VCE flight is scheduled to depart at 9.00 a.m. and arrive at 2.20 p.m. Qatar Airways suspended operations to VCE in the early months of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and expects to see considerable interest from the Japanese, Chinese and Australian markets. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer added: “We look forward to seeing our passengers uncover new experiences and resume flying to their favorite destinations.”
The announcement of the Hamburg and Venice flights followed increased frequencies to a number of Qatar Airways’ destinations. Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Belgrade and Miami all saw recent increases in flights taking the carrier’s total number of destinations to more than 170. The airline’s hub at Hamad International Airport has also undergone significant expansion with construction continuing to deal with passenger demand. Phase A of the expansion was opened in 2022 and Phase B will see over 95,000 square meters in extension of Concourses D and E, and a new cargo terminal taking the airport’s capacity capability up to 70 million passengers per year.
