The concept of being a gateway is not new.
the airline industry is torn between 2 paths to resolve how to handle the increase in air traffic volume.
1. long haul flights
2. connecting flights ( e.g. gateway airports )
i would put money on long haul despite the lesser degree of flexibility it will provide. As it is , our neighbour UAE are already down this path option 2 which means more competition ( good thing ) but with smaller margin and possibly corners cut ( bad )
its already a hub for qatar airways, and i guess with other airlines required to fufill their gateway to world plan they will need them. QA will probably have the closest gates..
becoming an aircraft maintanence centre really does concern me because it requires high levels of skill and a strong regulatory oversight( for safety) which means high salaried staff and heavy responsibilty. I have yet to see anything like this elsewhere in Qatar and I suspect corners will be cut with unskilled staff and blame apportioned to everyone but those who want to be charge. the culture just isn't there.
Qatar should focus on running an efficient and smooth operation at the new airport and all its ancilleries( better food, facilities,transport and no more spending 30 mins traveling from the gate to the plane! ) first before taking the next step. I want to see an airport like KLIA not Heathrow !
The concept of being a gateway is not new.
the airline industry is torn between 2 paths to resolve how to handle the increase in air traffic volume.
1. long haul flights
2. connecting flights ( e.g. gateway airports )
i would put money on long haul despite the lesser degree of flexibility it will provide. As it is , our neighbour UAE are already down this path option 2 which means more competition ( good thing ) but with smaller margin and possibly corners cut ( bad )
its already a hub for qatar airways, and i guess with other airlines required to fufill their gateway to world plan they will need them. QA will probably have the closest gates..
becoming an aircraft maintanence centre really does concern me because it requires high levels of skill and a strong regulatory oversight( for safety) which means high salaried staff and heavy responsibilty. I have yet to see anything like this elsewhere in Qatar and I suspect corners will be cut with unskilled staff and blame apportioned to everyone but those who want to be charge. the culture just isn't there.
Qatar should focus on running an efficient and smooth operation at the new airport and all its ancilleries( better food, facilities,transport and no more spending 30 mins traveling from the gate to the plane! ) first before taking the next step. I want to see an airport like KLIA not Heathrow !