Qatar Airways Reduces Flights to London Gatwick, Venice, and Warsaw
Qatar Airways has recently announced reductions in its flight schedules to several European destinations, including London Gatwick, Venice, and Warsaw. This change reflects a strategic adjustment in response to fluctuating demand and operational considerations.
Flight Reductions Overview
The airline will decrease its London Gatwick services from double daily flights to 11 weekly. The adjusted schedule maintains fully daytime flights on specific days of the week—Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday—with both routes operated by a Boeing 787-8.
London Gatwick Flight Schedule
- Outbound (DOH-LGW)
- QR 329/330 (daily): 01:35-06:40 / 08:10-16:50
- QR 327/328 (four times weekly): 08:20-13:25 / 14:55-23:35
Additionally, Qatar Airways operates flights to London Heathrow with up to ten daily options, utilizing a mix of Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Airbus A350-900, and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.
Changes to Venice and Warsaw Services
In Venice, the airline is not only cutting frequency but also reducing capacity by substituting the Airbus A350 with a smaller Airbus A320. The updated schedule for Venice includes:
Venice Flight Schedule
- Outbound (DOH-VCE)
- QR 125/126 (four times weekly): 09:10-14:20 / 16:05-22:55
For Warsaw, the service will be reduced to 12 weekly flights from a double daily configuration. The following schedule now applies:
Warsaw Flight Schedule
- Outbound (DOH-WAW)
- QR 263/264 (daily): 02:00-07:00 / 10:00-16:30
- QR 259/260 (five times weekly): 08:30-13:30 / 17:40-00:10
Market Impact and Future Prospects
This year, Qatar Airways has seen an overall contraction in capacity to Europe, with flights declining by approximately 1.8% and seat capacity down 2.2%. Notable suspensions include routes to Lyon and Hamburg, while services to Trabzon, Sofia, and Belgrade have also experienced reductions between 15% and 25%.
In contrast, the airline has focused on enhancing its offerings to select European destinations, achieving significant growth in markets like Malta, Mykonos, and Madrid. Qatar Airways’ cautious approach to growth contrasts with competitors like Etihad Airways and Emirates, both of which are expanding their European networks.
Overall, despite the reduction in flights to select routes, Qatar Airways continues to adapt its strategy in response to market demands and emerging travel trends.
