Qantas partner Qatar Airways is winding back its new flights between Adelaide and Doha, Qatar from later this year, dropping down from a daily service to five flights a week.

Established in May 2016 using an Airbus A350 aircraft, the airline will suspend flights from Adelaide on Wednesdays and Sundays and from Doha on Tuesdays and Saturdays from October 30, with its reduced schedule remaining in place until at least August 2017.

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Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker had previously alerted Australian Business Traveller to a reduction in Adelaide flights, but at the time, noted that only one flight per week would be suspended and that daily service would be restored after a 12-week period.

Akbar also explained in May 2016 that changes to Adelaide were “in order to cater for other destinations” due to a shortage of A350 aircraft in the airline’s fleet, as “Qatar Airways is very picky when it comes to quality” and had experienced delivery delays on several of its A350s.

Qatar Airways' Country Manager (Australasia) Adam Radwanski also shared that the airline “remains fully committed to the Australian market, and to the people and city of Adelaide. We will revert to a daily flight schedule for Adelaide as soon as we are able.”

Brisbane next for Qatar..?

Speaking at the CAPA Australia Pacific Summit 2016, the airline’s Senior Vice President Aeropolitical and Corporate Affairs, Fathi Atti, also shared that flights from Doha to Brisbane are firmly on the radar, but are constrained by limitations on ‘traffic rights’ between Australia and Qatar.

“One of the reasons why I’m here (in Brisbane) is my airline wants to be here, and we will. That’s a promise”, he said.

Qatar Airways will also bring its flagship Airbus A380 onto its Sydney-Doha flights from September 15, complete with the airline’s latest business class seats, first class suites and an inflight bar and lounge to rival Gulf competitors Emirates and Etihad.

Also read: China Southern Airlines to launch Adelaide-Guangzhou flights

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