(QR) launched service from Hamad International Airport in Doha

 Qatar Airways (QR) launched service from Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, to Seattle, Washington, on Jan. 29, 2021, two months before schedule. It also marked the primary new service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport since the COVID-19 pandemic began.


Inaugural flights are always a joy to hide – you get to ascertain other media colleagues and friends, there’s always a touch of a festival atmosphere, and, better of all, you get to travel out onto the ramp at a busy international airport to require photos and luxuriate in the experience of being airside.


The 777 is an imposingly large aircraft

The 777 is an imposingly large aircraft


Qatar now serves the three largest cities on the U.S. West Coast: l. a. , San Francisco , and Seattle. The Seattle service are going to be served by Boeing 777s with 42 seats in Qsuite business class and 312 seats in economy. The Qsuite seat layout may be a 1-2-1 configuration, and economy is 3-4-3. Seattle service begins at fourfold weekly (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), and is scheduled to modify to daily service on Dominion Day .



A Qsuite was found out for the occasion – they're quite spacious


The food service was impeccable


Details included custom amenity kits


The new Seattle service will offer connections from the U.S. to global destinations in Africa, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, among others. The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 120 destinations with plans to extend to quite 130 by the top of March.


Before the inaugural event, I had the chance to talk on the phone with Mark Drusch, SVP of Revenue Management, Alliances and Strategy at Qatar Airways, who’s based in Doha.


“We understand that there are Somalis in Seattle who want to travel home — we all know where our customers got to fly. we've flown a strong schedule even within the depths of covid, so we’ve had our finger on the heart beat of the market and are ready to accurately gauge the movements that are required,” he said, citing strong pent-up demand for visit East Africa , Southeast Asia , and therefore the Indian subcontinent.


Further, covid has opened a wave of interest in visit exotic/under-visited destinations. “We have gotten a huge developing market between the U.S. and more exotic beach destinations just like the Seychelles,” Drusch said. ‘People want to travel someplace a touch more isolated, which market has developed quite nicely.”


He also cited the attractiveness for the airline of the strong business environment in Seattle and therefore the Pacific Northwest . “This area has not had a drag during the pandemic,” he said, adding that “the Pacific Northwest will rebound faster due to the sorts of businesses we've over here .”


The 773's cargo area was crammed with containers. Qatar flies the massive jets, in part, to maximise its cargo-handling opportunities

The 77W’s cargo area was crammed with containers. Qatar flies the massive jets, in part, to maximise its cargo-handling opportunities.


Cargo is that the one aviation sector that has seen growth since the emergence of COVID-19. “Our cargo market has just boomed during the pandemic. We are the most important passenger/freighter operation within the world, we were experts already in carrying cargo on freighters and passenger planes, and we’re flying the 773, which has many cargo capacity.”


Asked if Qatar sees itself as being in competition with Emirates for connecting passenger traffic, Drush said, “Lets be honest – the airline industry is extremely competitive, but we’ve been different than Emirates – they’ve pulled back from the U.S. and Europe. We’ve continued to be within the marketplace for our customers; within the middle of covid we repatriated almost 2 million people.”


The 777-300 cockpit is additionally quite spacious

The 777-300 cockpit is additionally quite spacious


Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Alaska Mileage Plan members can now earn frequent flyer miles on both carriers. Beginning March 31, 2021, members also can redeem frequent flyer miles on both carriers’ full networks and elite oneworld Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald status perks, including lounge access.



The departing flight also got a water-cannon salute


Headed back out on the nearly 14-hour flight from SEA-DOH


Of interest to those within the Pacific Northwest who are Alaska Airlines frequent fliers, Qatar is a component of the oneworld alliance, which Alaska recently joined. Alaska Airlines will connect customers from the U.S. West Coast to Doha and beyond via its other hubs in l. a. and San Francisco , complementing existing strategic partnerships with JetBlue and oneworld carrier American Airlines.

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