With the departure today of flight 977, United Airlines will launch a daily service between its Washington hub, Dulles International Airport, and Doha, Qatar, via Dubai.
The extension of the existing Dubai service to Doha is the first of three new, previously announced United services from Washington Dulles. The airline will introduce nonstop service between Dulles and Manchester, U.K. tomorrow, and between Dulles and Dublin, Ireland, on June 7.
"We are delighted to add Doha to United's global route network," said James Mueller, United's vice president Atlantic & Pacific Sales. "Our customers in both the U.S. and Qatar will benefit from increased travel opportunities and options with this new service."
United operates the Washington/Dulles-Dubai-Doha service with a Boeing 777 aircraft.
Industry analyst Saj Ahmad commented: “US airlines are slowly waking up to the competitive threat posed by GCC airlines and United Airlines will have it all to do if it aims to make profitable its daily services to Doha via Dubai.
“It is interesting that United Airlines is not servicing Doha directly, just as Qatar Airways does on this cash-lucrative route. Whether this changes in the future depends on its success in trying to compete with the likes of the big three Arab carriers in their backyard.
“But with Emirates and Etihad Airways also launching services to Washington DC over the next few months, it feels as if United Airlines was compelled to making a move - after all, could it absorb the pressure of more astute carriers from the Persian Gulf forever? Probably not and its precisely why they are introducing daily flights to give customers more choice, aside from the big three Gulf airlines. However, that Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways have far superior cabin products and all sport new airplanes such as the 777-300ER, it will be mighty difficult for United Airlines to compete effectively, especially when it still wont be servicing Doha with a direct connection."
"We are delighted to add Doha to United's global route network," said James Mueller, United's vice president Atlantic & Pacific Sales. "Our customers in both the U.S. and Qatar will benefit from increased travel opportunities and options with this new service."
United operates the Washington/Dulles-Dubai-Doha service with a Boeing 777 aircraft.
Industry analyst Saj Ahmad commented: “US airlines are slowly waking up to the competitive threat posed by GCC airlines and United Airlines will have it all to do if it aims to make profitable its daily services to Doha via Dubai.
“It is interesting that United Airlines is not servicing Doha directly, just as Qatar Airways does on this cash-lucrative route. Whether this changes in the future depends on its success in trying to compete with the likes of the big three Arab carriers in their backyard.
“But with Emirates and Etihad Airways also launching services to Washington DC over the next few months, it feels as if United Airlines was compelled to making a move - after all, could it absorb the pressure of more astute carriers from the Persian Gulf forever? Probably not and its precisely why they are introducing daily flights to give customers more choice, aside from the big three Gulf airlines. However, that Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways have far superior cabin products and all sport new airplanes such as the 777-300ER, it will be mighty difficult for United Airlines to compete effectively, especially when it still wont be servicing Doha with a direct connection."
Article Source : Arabian Aerospace
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