UPDATE | Qatar Airways will join the Oneworld airline alliance in 2014, a move which will deliver several benefits to Qantas frequent flyers. Full details here.
PREVIOUS | Qatar Airways is courting Qantas with the aim of forming a partnership between the Australian and Middle eastern airlines.
The move would provide Qatar with greater reach and profile in the Australian market, while affording Qantas greater access to Europe by sharing Qatar flights under Qantas flight numbers.
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al-Baker, currently in Australia for the launch of Qatar's flights to Perth, will meet Qantas executives in Sydney next week.
"Most certainly we will have a partnership with Qantas,'' a confident Akbar al-Baker predicted at a press conference in Perth. “We have been meeting with Qantas for quite some time."
"Qantas under Alan Joyce has taken a very positive attitude towards Qatar and Emirates and we hope that both our airlines will be able to work with Qantas closely going forward. We can only make ourselves stronger with this sort of partnership.''
News of a potential codeshare partnership between Qatar and Qantas follows recent speculation of a similar Qantas-Emirates alliance, which would also be aimed at using a Middle Eastern destination as a staging point for direct flights into much more of Europe than Qantas' current partnerships provide.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Nov 2011
Total posts 121
This would be fantastic... Access to Doha and London Qatar lounges/terminals along with added connections would be great...
03 Jan 2012
Total posts 96
I've just jumped to the Qatar airline for a flight from Perth to London in October. First time abanding QF out of Perth and not using QF via Singapore. Reasons: 777 (big plane) the whole way; great departure times from Perth and arrival into London mid-morning; great departure time and arrival into Perth mid-afternoon rather than after mid-night and no cabs at Perth airport. Very short turn-around in Doha. All looks good.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 335
When does Qatar get their first 787?
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