Qatar Airways Plans Multan, Sialkot & Faisalabad Flights

[Abbas Ali]

Qatar Airways is planning to start flights to link Doha with Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad.

Info source: http://airlineroute.net/2015/02/21/qr-s15proposal1/

Abbas

[Humsafar]

Quite the expansion, all at once...

Will Emirates respond by launching Multan and Faisalabad?

[Hamad]

Wooow if that is true than its a pretty good push into the Pakistani Market with 3 new cities.
Actually QR has also smaller Aircraft comparing to EK so they can start with A320 while EK's smallest Aircraft was the A332.

Really hope to see soon starting Flights to these cities.

By the way they would have a very similar departure time like EK but as these Flights are scheduled to be operated on 135(Monday,Wednesday and Friday) there wouldn't be any problem as EK operates on 2467(Tuesday,Thursday,Saturday and Sunday) - except the proposed 4th weekly flight which is mentioned on the Website.

[Abbas Ali]

Will Emirates respond by launching Multan and Faisalabad?

There were reports about Emirates plans to start flights for Multan after opening of new terminal building of Multan Airport.

Abbas

[CYQX]

Qatar Airways is starting FAISALABAD(LYP), SIALKOT (SKT) & MULTAN (MUX) flights as per below schedule:

1. FAISALABAD (LYP) effective 17th July 2015

QR 622 17-Jul-15 23-Oct-15 1.3.5.. DOH LYP 01:10 06:35 A320 JY144
QR 623 17-Jul-15 23-Oct-15 1.3.5.. LYP DOH 09:45 11:15 A320 JY144

2. SIALKOT (SKT) effective 16th July 2015

QR 626 16-Jul-15 24-Oct-15 .2.4.67 DOH SKT 01:10 06:50 A320 JY144
QR 627 16-Jul-15 24-Oct-15 .2.4.67 SKT DOH 09:35 11:15 A320 JY144

3. MULTAN (MUX) effective 01st August 2015

QR 618 01-Aug-15 24-Oct-15 ..3.5.7 DOH MUX 01:10 06:25 A320 JY144
QR 619 01-Aug-15 24-Oct-15 ..3.5.7 MUX DOH 09:35 11:05 A320 JY144

All times in Local

[Hamad]

It's officially confirmed - Great News for all People from and around Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan =D>


Qatar Airways unveils 3 new destinations in Pakistan

DOHA, Qatar - Qatar Airways today unveiled the launch dates of three new passenger destinations in Pakistan as part of the airline's continued expansion strategy.

Beginning 16th July 2015, the airline will begin four weekly passenger services to Sialkot where it already operates dedicated freighter services three times a week. Sialkot also marks Qatar Airways' first new passenger route to Pakistan since 2004.

A day later, on 17th July 2015, Qatar Airways will add Faisalabad to its Pakistan network with three flights a week, and from 1st August 2015, Qatar Airways will spread its wings further in Pakistan with the launch of three flights a week to Multan.

Qatar Airways currently operates 45 flights a week spread across four cities in Pakistan - double daily flights to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, and three flights a week to Peshawar. Karachi was first launched by the airline in 1995, Peshawar in 1998, Lahore in 1999 and Islamabad in 2004.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker explained the importance of the new routes to Pakistan, saying: "We have had a well-established operation in Pakistan for many years, but have always been looking to expand more, and now thanks to new agreements in place between the relevant authorities, we will soon enjoy significantly greater capacity between Qatar and Pakistan.

"Our passengers will be able to take advantage of an enhanced choice of destinations when we launch our operations to Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan in Pakistan adding greater convenience for both business and leisure travellers.

"With our state-of-the-art new home at Hamad International Airport and its rapid and convenient connections, these three new routes offer a significantly enhanced offering for our passengers to and from Pakistan and we look forward to welcoming them onboard with our five-star service."

Faisalabad is Pakistan's third largest city and has experienced rapid industrial development as it has nurtured itself into a major growth centre with high economic activity. Key markets in Qatar Airways' route network for Faisalabad will include destinations in the Middle East and the Americas “ Jeddah, Dubai, Muscat, Bahrain, Kuwait, New York, Washington, Chicago and Montreal.

Sialkot is a large economic hub as the city boasts of several manufacturing industries. It is the world's largest producer of hand-sewed footballs, with local factories manufacturing 40-60 million footballs a year, amounting to roughly 70% of the total world production. Europe, the Americas and the Middle East are important regions for travel to and from Sialkot and key destinations include London Heathrow, Manchester, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Rome, Dammam, Abu Dhabi and New York.

As a commercial and industrial centre Multan is very well connected with industrial hubs in the rest of the country through rail and air. The city is also an important agricultural centre as it is home to a wide variety of crops and livestock. Qatar Airways' key destination markets to Multan include routes in the Middle East and North America.

Qatar Airways will operate an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of up to 12 seats in Business Class and up to 132 in Economy Class on all the new routes to Pakistan.

With five new destinations on the horizon (Amsterdam, Durban, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan), Qatar Airways will increase its global portfolio to 151 destinations across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, North America and South America. The carrier currently operates a modern fleet of 149 aircraft.

The Doha - Sialkot schedules starting from 16th July 2015 are:

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Depart Doha QR 626 at 01:10, arrive Sialkot at 06:50
Depart Sialkot QR 627 at 08:35, arrive Doha at 10:15

The Doha - Faisalabad schedules starting from 17th July 2015 are:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Depart Doha QR 624 at 01:10, arrive Faisalabad at 06:35
Depart Faisalabad QR 625 at 09:45, arrive Doha at 11:15

The Doha - Multan schedules starting from 1st August 2015 are:

Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
Depart Doha QR 618 at 01:10, arrive Multan at 06:25
Depart Multan QR 619 at 09:35, arrive Doha at 11:05

Source: http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/p ... tes-040315

[mac777]

sialkot and multan were expected but i didnt expect faisalabad. its excellent as it will open up the city to the world.neither the local airlines nor the lcc gulf airlines will be able to offer a better choice for connecting flights

[Hamad]

sialkot and multan were expected but i didnt expect faisalabad. its excellent as it will open up the city to the world.neither the local airlines nor the lcc gulf airlines will be able to offer a better choice for connecting flights

I agree also never thought that they will start LYP - but good for people living in and around Faisalabad.
This will take lots of PAX from LHE to LYP and SKT.

[Pineapple]

EY and EK must be watching this closely.

[jam2k94]

SIAL should expedite the construction of the passenger terminal.

[alimirfin]

Good news for these three cities. At Sialkot they need to build 2nd waiting lounge asap. There are always delays in foggy season and if Qatar, Emirates operate on same day with 1 hour difference of departures, it will be very hard to manage.

[Hamad]

Good news for these three cities. At Sialkot they need to build 2nd waiting lounge asap. There are always delays in foggy season and if Qatar, Emirates operate on same day with 1 hour difference of departures, it will be very hard to manage.

Actually you are right they should complete the Expansion work and the upper floor asap.
But as long as QR operated with an A320 it is still good to manage - I remember when I was departing on an EK Flight while 1 hour later a PIA A320 Flight to Dammam was also going to depart.

There were enough seating space but the problem might be the security checks from ANF and Customs at the beginning.
Anyhow if QR will get a healthy PAX load they might upgrade this Route later to an A321 or A330.

But no doubt in case of foggy weather or delays they will get problems.
So anyhow the Expansion is necessary and has to be completed soon but unfortunately the construction process is very slow.

[bigfish]

even those A320's will fill up very quickly......the only thing holding back capacity building is the lack of infrastructure to support larger multiple aircrafts at the same time

[Abbas Ali]

Qatar Airways Sialkot and Faisalabad flights advertisement in today's (May 4) newspaper.

Fly from Sialkot and Faisalabad to over 140 destinations

Welcome to our expanding network

Award winning service and hospitality awaits you on-board one of the youngest fleets in the skies. With comfortable seating, delectable cuisine and over 2,000 in-flight entertainment options, you will experience a flight experience like no other. Fly with Qatar Airways and enjoy convenient connections to more than 140 destinations worldwide, via Doha.

Fly 4 times a week from Sialkot commencing 16th July, and 3 times a week from Faisalabad commencing 17th July 2015.

For more information or to book your ticket, please contact us at 111-310-310, visit qatarairways.com/pk or your nearest travel agent.

World's 5-star airline.



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Has Qatar Airways postponed plan to start flights for Multan? Their advertisements mention only Sialkot and Faisalabad.

Advertisement in today's (May 14) newspaper announcing flights for Sialkot and Faisalabad.



Abbas