Naim 6 Report post Posted September 30, 2011 Naim: Deciding whether to pull the trigger myself on this deal. How are you getting to Tromso? What's the cheapest way? Plane is best, almost 2hrs flight -- two carriers: http://wideroe.no and http://norwegian.no Found http://wideroe.no to have the best deal for us, but then we are flying from Bergen to Tromso (transfer at Oslo) -- last flight on 14/10. All-in EUR125/pax. 4 nights in Tromso to increase chances of aurora sighting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Waiping 12 Report post Posted October 1, 2011 The air fare may be cheap but Oslo is such an expensive city But people can take this chance to go to other more affordable European cities through Oslo. It means one will have to buy another air ticket from Oslo to another European city but it will still be very cheap, definitely beats flying D7 directly to Europe It's number 2 after Tokyo. Did some check and stay at backpackers near airport would cost around RM350+ per night. Anyway I thought of getting the ticket myself but figured the accommodation both at OSL & DOH may come to about 3k-4k. Still rather affordable though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calvinoeh 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2011 Couldn't resist and gave in to temptation. Too good of a deal to let slip. 2 nights in Oslo and 2 nights in Tromso - taken too much holidays already and this was the most I could squeeeze in. Here's hoping to catch the Aurora... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted October 1, 2011 Couldn't resist and gave in to temptation. Too good of a deal to let slip. 2 nights in Oslo and 2 nights in Tromso - taken too much holidays already and this was the most I could squeeeze in. Here's hoping to catch the Aurora... Hahaha, all the best to you, and me. We'll be in Tromso 14-18Oct. Was thinking of flying further north to Longyearbyen for a day but fare too high. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted October 1, 2011 Sometimes can get complimentary room: http://qatarairways.zendesk.com/entries/508355-what-if-i-have-a-transit-time-of-over-8-hours-in-doha Not for the dirt-cheap fares Although it doesn't say there, it depends on the class of travel... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alberttky 0 Report post Posted October 8, 2011 According to a report on Bloomberg, Qatar Airways is poised to inaugurate services to Finland. The report quotes Qatar’s CEO Akbar al Baker as saying his airline aims to announce a route to Helsinki “imminently.” Mr Baker was speaking yesterday at the launch of Qatar’s new route into Oslo (see online news October 5) which follows existing services into Copenhagen (launched in 2010) and Stockholm (started in 2007). It means that travellers in Scandinavia and the Nordic countries are gaining easier and, possibly less expensive, access to destinations in the Middle East, Asia and Australia. By contrast, its Gulf-based rivals have so far neglected this area of the world. Emirates and Bahrain-based Gulf Air serve only Copenhagen while Abu Dhabi-based Etihad is not represented at all. Assuming that Helsinki goes ahead, it is not clear whether the route will be flown non-stop from Doha (perhaps with a narrow-bodied long-range A319) or whether Qatar will seek to combine the Finnish capital with either Oslo or Stockholm for operating efficiency. In some ways, the choice of Helsinki is a surprise. That is because Finland is a small market and a good proportion of the passengers carried by home airline Finnair to Asia are in transit. In other words, they may have started their journeys to, say, Hong Kong or Singapore in the likes of Manchester or London or Gothenburg or Hamburg. In addition, Finland lies astride the “great circle” air route linking Europe to Asia via Russia so Finnair can offer passengers much shorter journey times. But Finns do travel to the Gulf: witness Finnair’s launch today of a three times a week seasonal route between Helsinki and Dubai. So it would seem Qatar Airways will compete by offering a wider range of destinations via Doha and by pricing keenly. http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/qatara-s-nordic-niche Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nastar 0 Report post Posted October 10, 2011 Guys, please. before you bullshit the promo, get some info and then only u decide either to bullshit or not to bullshit. *sigh. This is a real launch promo fare based on USD50 fare. all in fares would be MYR1280, valid for sales and travel (outbound) until 20Oct11. QR has twice weekly good connection to OSL from KUL, which is on day 3 & 5 (Wednesday and friday) on the returning, good connection is on day 2,4,5 & 7. (tuesday, thursday, friday and sunday). QR is a PREMIUM AIRLINE, there are no such thing of no food serve, no baggage allowance and those nonsense. Too much travel on LCC perhaps? *sigh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calvinoeh 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2011 Oslo is one of the pretties cities I've been in. No regrets visiting especially for a ~1.3k fare. Am in Tromso right now and things don't look good for Aurora hunting. My tour just got cancelled as the weather doesn't look good. Hoping things clears up tomorrow but very unlikely.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted October 14, 2011 Oslo is one of the pretties cities I've been in. No regrets visiting especially for a ~1.3k fare. Am in Tromso right now and things don't look good for Aurora hunting. My tour just got cancelled as the weather doesn't look good. Hoping things clears up tomorrow but very unlikely.. Are you there together with Doc Naim ? Maybe no Aurora, but definitely seeing some snow (according the webcam)... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted October 14, 2011 Are you there together with Doc Naim ? Maybe no Aurora, but definitely seeing some snow (according the webcam)... Am now at Oslo Gardermoen, just arrived from beautiful Bergen with SAS LN-KUL. Plane to TOS leaves at 10pm. Hoping for better weather tomorrow there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calvinoeh 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2011 Yup, was a pleasure meeting Naim in KLIA. We were on the same KUL-DOH-OSL flight. Hopefully both of us get to see the Aurora tomorrow! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted October 14, 2011 Just got into Tromso @ Viking Hotell @12.30am. Drizzling, but looking good. Wishing the best for Saturday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted October 15, 2011 Good luck guys! Looking forward to seeing your pix! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calvinoeh 0 Report post Posted October 16, 2011 No luck for me Didn't get to see the lights. Weather was horrible with clouds all over. Had a bit of opening but we didn't wait long enough. Details to come in my trip report.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted October 16, 2011 No luck for me Didn't get to see the lights. Weather was horrible with clouds all over. Had a bit of opening but we didn't wait long enough. Details to come in my trip report.. If I miss the Lights here in Tromso, I'm gonna go to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, for the 2nd attempt! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alberttky 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2011 Qatar Airways is leading the Gulf charge into post-Gaddafi Libya by announcing four-a-week flights between Doha and Benghazi from November 1. Services into Libya's second largest city will be operated by two-class A320s, with 12 first class seats and 132 in economy. Flights will operate Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. QR556 will depart Doha 0930, arriving Benghazi 1410, and QR557 will depart Benghazi 1510, arriving Doha 2050. The airline said its flights to Tripoli, launched eight years ago, remain suspended but are expected to resume "soon". Etihad Airways is also looking to start services to Tripoli soon too, although Emirates said its services to the Libyan capital remain suspended. As part of the airline’s aggressive route expansion strategy to fly to diverse cities, Qatar said the north-east port city of Benghazi is "yet another destination which is underserved and will benefit from new international flights". CEO Akbar Al Baker said he spoke about the possibility of expanding Libyan operations almost a year ago in Nice. Benghazi leaps to the top of the airline's new route roster, ahead of Entebbe and Chongqing, which start on November 2 and November 28 respectively. http://www.businesstraveller.com/middle-east/news/qatar-airways-starting-benghazi-services-novemb Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted October 25, 2011 If there's a special fare, I'll skip. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alberttky 0 Report post Posted November 17, 2011 Dubai Air Show, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Qatar Airways today announced its 2012 route expansion programme focusing on Australia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East with a raft of new destinations set to join the airline’s rapidly-growing global network. Highlights include Perth in Western Australia, the Finnish capital Helsinki, Croatia’s capital city of Zagreb, Gassim in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and three East African cities – Zanzibar, Kigali and Mombasa, in Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya, respectively. Operating from the airline’s hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, all seven new routes will be launched over the next few months. They will join previously announced Baku and Tbilisi, the capital cities of Azerbaijan and Georgia, respectively, which are will become part of Qatar Airways’ family of routes from February 1. Speaking at the Dubai Air Show today, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker unveiled the new destinations, stressing the airline’s relentless expansion strategy was continuing with vigour. “We are continuing what we started back in 1997 when Qatar Airways was launched with new routes and new aircraft being introduced at an unprecedented rate to further strengthen what is truly a global network airline,” said Al Baker. “Our mission has been to operate to key business and leisure destinations around the world, but also to underserved markets where others dare not venture into. We take bold decisions to serve certain markets because we believe it makes strong business sense. “Today’s announcement shows the confidence Qatar Airways has in such a diverse range of destinations. We look forward to offering even greater choice to the travelling public that they so deserve.” The announcement of Perth – Qatar Airways’ second route in Australia – comes almost two years after the launch of the airline’s first route Down Under, to Melbourne. In Europe, where the airline has launched seven routes this year, the addition of Helsinki and Zagreb will further strengthen its presence on the continent. Helsinki will become the fourth Nordic route served by Qatar Airways, with already successful operations in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. Qatar Airways’ African expansion which, in the past two weeks, has included route launches to Entebbe in Uganda and the Libyan port city of Benghazi – the first on the African continent since 2007 – will see three more destinations added in the region next year. Kigali, rich in mining and capital of Rwanda, together with Kenya’s second largest city and popular tourist centre of Mombasa, and the mystic spice island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, will significantly boost the airline’s African network, to where it already flies to 16 cities. Flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be added with the launch of a new route to Gassim, the carrier’s fifth destination in the country, a market to where Qatar Airways has raised capacity by more than doubling frequency in recent months to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Medina. Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, currently operates a modern fleet of 102 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to 109 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America from its Doha hub. The airline’s aggressive 2011 expansion programme has so far seen the launch of flights to 14 destinations – Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Brussels (Belgium), Stuttgart (Germany), Aleppo (Syria), Shiraz (Iran), Venice (Italy), Montreal (Canada), Medina (Saudi Arabia), Kolkata (India), Sofia (Bulgaria), Oslo (Norway), Benghazi (Libya) and Entebbe (Uganda). The Chinese city of Chongqing becomes Qatar Airways’ final new route of 2011, being launched as its fifth gateway in China on November 28. Recently named Airline of the Year 2011 by global industry audit Skytrax, award-winning Qatar Airways will operate over 120 aircraft to more than 120 destinations worldwide by 2013. http://www.just4airlines.com/j4_dox/email/rss.mv?story_id=54032 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alberttky 0 Report post Posted November 17, 2011 Qatar looking at CSeries, 767F and new routes Bombardier’s CSeries family is still on Qatar Airways' (QR) radar, according to CEO Akbar Al Baker. Addressing media at the Dubai Airshow, Al Baker said the CSeries was “still of great interest” to the airline but that it had finite resources to work through a variety of projects. “We will get to the CSeries,” Al Baker said. While not giving a timeframe, Al Baker gave the impression that a decision would be made in the early 2012, with speculation that a Farnborough announcement could be possible. QR is also weighing up to 29 767F conversions with Boeing after Airbus has apparently balked at an A330 freighter conversion program. “Airbus is not making up its mind on converting the A330—only new builds,” Al Baker said. Separately, Al Baker announced that QR would start services to seven new destinations in 2012; Perth in Western Australia, the Finnish capital Helsinki, Croatia’s capital city of Zagreb, Gassim in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and three East African cities—Zanzibar, Kigali and Mombasa, in Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya, respectively. All seven new routes will be launched over the next few months. The airline has already announced Baku and Tbilisi, the capital cities of Azerbaijan and Georgia, respectively, which are will become part of QR’s network from Feb. 1. http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engines-components/news/qatar-looking-cseries-767f-new-routes-1116 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nastar 0 Report post Posted November 17, 2011 QR schedule plan to PER, effective 3Jul12, with 3weekly flights operates by 332, increased to daily from 28Oct12 operates by 77L: Al FlNo Start End Pattern Orig Dest STD STA A/C Cfg QR 900 03/Jul/2012 27/Oct/2012 .2.4.6. DOH PER 01:50 18:15 A332 CY260 QR 901 03/Jul/2012 27/Oct/2012 .2.4.6. PER DOH 22:30 05:20+1 A332 CY260 QR 900 28/Oct/2012 30/Mar/2013 1234567 DOH PER 01:50 18:15 B777 CY259 QR 901 28/Oct/2012 30/Mar/2013 1234567 PER DOH 22:30 05:20+1 B777 CY259 Frequency increase to/from KUL and many other stations, effective Aug12. The plan is in place. Yet to announce. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alberttky 0 Report post Posted November 22, 2011 Qatar Airways to add 15 new routes in 2012 Qatar Airways announced it plans to launch 15 new routes over 2012 (MENAFN/Arabian Business, 20-Nov-2011). Perth, Zagreb, Kiev, Blegrade, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Gassim, Zanzibar, Kigali and Mombasa as well as five other destinations well be added during the year. The carrier also plans to add three new routes to Iran within a few weeks. Qatar Airlines plans to add a new aircraft to its fleet every 18 days. The carrier expects to have a network of 120 destinations, served by 120 aircraft, by 2013. http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/qatar-airways-to-add-15-new-routes-in-2012-129667 A new aircraft to its fleet every 18 days??????? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izanee 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2011 Zagreb used to be served by MAS via Vienna --> a lot of croatians emigrated to australia so they were targeting that group of people. The same with Beirut. Sad to see both those destinations go. Interesting times, then. Was nice to go online and look at the departure/arrival board for Zagreb and see 'Kuala Lumpur' on it. They were the only Asian airline flying there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JuliusWong 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) A new aircraft to its fleet every 18 days??????? At this rate, QR will be par with EK soon..although the latter is expanding at the same rate as well. EK received two B777s in space of two/ three days few months back. Astonishing!!! Zagreb used to be served by MAS via Vienna --> a lot of croatians emigrated to australia so they were targeting that group of people. The same with Beirut. Sad to see both those destinations go. Interesting times, then. Was nice to go online and look at the departure/arrival board for Zagreb and see 'Kuala Lumpur' on it. They were the only Asian airline flying there. Agree. MH used to fly to a lot of exotic destinations: Davao, Zamboanga City, Madrid, Busan, Honolulu(!!), Munich.....the list is long. Zagreb was more for prestigious reason. Mahathir was best friends of the ex PM of Croatia. Other reason was because of all the peacekeeping soldiers in post war Zagreb and there are a lot of Australians of Croatian ancestry thus O&D markets for MH. Edited November 24, 2011 by JuliusWong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dean hizudy 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2011 At this rate, QR will be par with EK soon..although the latter is expanding at the same rate as well. EK received two B777s in space of two/ three days few months back. Astonishing!!! Agree. MH used to fly to a lot of exotic destinations: Davao, Zamboanga City, Madrid, Busan, Honolulu(!!), Munich.....the list is long. Zagreb was more for prestigious reason. Mahathir was best friends of the ex PM of Croatia. Other reason was because of all the peacekeeping soldiers in post war Zagreb and there are a lot of Australians of Croatian ancestry thus O&D markets for MH. and rumored has it MH want fly the zagreb-JFK..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alberttky 0 Report post Posted August 16, 2012 Qatar Airways will launch new flights from its Doha hub to the Serbian capital Belgrade on 20 November and Warsaw, Poland on 5 December. The Belgrade route will be operated three times weekly with a stopover in Ankara, Turkey. The Warsaw connection will be four times weekly. Both routes will be served by an Airbus A320 with 12 business class and 132 economy seats. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qatar-airways-to-launch-belgrade-warsaw-routes-375509/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
