Qatar Airways goes non-stop to Auckland, extends Brisbane flights
- 4 years ago
Qatar Airways is extending its Doha-Brisbane-Auckland flights through March 2021, before returning Doha-Auckland to a marathon non-stop service.
Clocking in at 14,535km and almost 18 hours from gate to gate, the Doha-Auckland route will resume its status as the world's second-longest flight, trailing only Singapore Airlines' non-stop Singapore-Newark/New York route.
Due to the broad impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel, as well as various government and border restrictions, Qatar Airways pulled out of Auckland earlier this year, but made its return in August with flights operating via Brisbane.
That temporary Doha-Brisbane-Auckland route was previously slated to conclude on October 23 2020, but will now run three times each week until March 27 2021, when Auckland and Doha return to a non-stop pairing.
Using an Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, passengers in business class will continue to find Qsuites waiting for them, offering the privacy of a closing door at each seat – and, for some passengers, the ability to form a double bed between two seats.
Those travelling as a group of four can also create a private social zone between themselves.
While Qatar Airways had previously suspended new ticket sales on flights into Australia as well as into New Zealand due to arrival caps and other government restrictions, passengers without an existing reservation can now purchase flights into both Brisbane and Auckland from December 18 2020.
It’s expected that flights operating into both cities until that date will primarily accommodate travellers with existing bookings whose journey has been impacted by those government restrictions, which have prevented airlines from operating full inbound flights.
Bookings on outbound flights from both cities, however, are much more readily available – given the limitations apply only to arriving passengers, rather than those departing – although Australian residents will still require a government-granted exemption to leave the country.
Qatar Airways is not selling tickets for purely trans-Tasman flying between Brisbane and Auckland.
The long Auckland-Doha trek returns
As of March 28 2021, flights between Doha and Auckland will revert to daily non-stop services, as they were prior to COVID-19.
On this route, Qatar Airways will roll out its Boeing 777-200LR, as is also equipped with business class Qsuites: certain to be appreciated by passengers on the 17hr 50min journey from Auckland to Doha, as well as the still-lengthy 16.5hr jaunt from Doha to Auckland.
Qatar Airways is not currently selling Brisbane-Doha flights beyond March 27 2021, but had recently requested “a reasonable increase” to its Australian traffic rights.
If granted, this would pave the way for an ongoing (and daily) Brisbane service, without the airline needing to cut back its existing flights to Sydney, Melbourne or Perth – or, Canberra via Sydney – which fall under the same traffic limits as would apply to Brisbane.
The airline’s flights between Adelaide and Doha aren’t subject to the same limits, and don’t impact upon Qatar Airways’ ability to fly to those other capitals.
Qatar Airways’ Brisbane, Auckland flight schedules
Through late March 2021, Qatar Airways’ Doha-Brisbane-Auckland flights adopt the following schedule.
Route |
Operating days |
Departs |
Arrives |
| Doha to Brisbane (QR912) | Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays | 12:40am | 9:30pm |
| Brisbane to Auckland (QR912) | Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays | 11pm |
5:15am
(next day)
|
| Auckland to Brisbane (QR913) | Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays | 8pm |
8:45pm
|
| Brisbane to Doha (QR913) | Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays | 10:15pm |
6:10am
(next day)
|
From March 28 2021, when Brisbane flights are suspended and Auckland-Doha runs non-stop, the schedule moves to the below.
Route |
Operating days |
Departs |
Arrives |
| Doha to Auckland (QR920) | Mondays to Thursdays, Saturdays | 12:35am |
4:05am
(next day)
|
| Doha to Auckland (QR920) | Fridays and Sundays | 3:15am |
4:45am
(next day)
|
| Auckland to Doha (QR921) | Daily | 2:30pm |
11:20pm
|
Note that departure and arrival times above reflect the local time at the origin and destination, respectively. Also, while the departure and arrival times vary during the week for the Doha-Auckland flight, it remains a daily service.
It remains to be seen whether Qatar Airways will continue serving Brisbane beyond March next year, with Auckland passengers no longer helping to fill up flights to and from the Sunshine State.
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