Qatar Airways launches Montreal service

Extended negotiations for landing rights in Canada bore fruit when Qatar Airways made its first touchdown on Canadian soil with flights to Montreal the first of four cities in the country sought by the Doha-based carrier. The three-a-week services to Montreal (the carrier's eighth of 15 route launches this year) from Doha mark just the first of a bigger presence that Qatar Airways is eyeing in Canada. The airline's chief executive, Akbar Al Baker has voiced his intentions for the past year to start at least daily flights to Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver [totalling 28 frequencies including Montreal]. However, the Canadian government has relentlessly blocked access to further landing rights for not just the Doha carrier but also other Gulf carriers such as Emirates and Etihad Airways. The issue took a heated turn last month when Gulf carriers cornered Canadian government officials and those from national carrier Air Canada on the issue during the International Air Transport Association's annual gathering in Singapore attended by most global airline chiefs. "I have continuously been asked time and time again when we would spread our wings to Canada, and I am delighted we have finally reached your shores to become the only Gulf carrier serving Montreal," Al Baker said in a statement. Thanking the Canadian government, Al Baker added: "This is a proud moment for me, for Qatar Airways and for the State of Qatar as we establish a new air corridor between my country and Canada for the first time." Asked if the move brought Qatar Airways closer to its Canada goal, Addison Schonland, US-based aviation analyst and President of Innovation Analysis Group (IAG), told Gulf News: "Qatar Airways' access to Montreal is more complicated [than it is for other Gulf carriers]. The carrier is supposedly buying CSeries planes built in Montreal." The industry expected the carrier's Montreal flight to start with an announcement [for CSeries] at the recent Paris Air Show. "But the airline's chief didn't do this," said Schonland. He added that access to Canada is tough because the state protects Air Canada at its request. "Which is why Emirates can't get more access and so they use the A380 to maximise their slot," Schonland pointed out. "The Canadian government is no doubt watching this. Access to Doha is not something Air Canada wants. So Qatar has to give some other quid pro quo. A CSeries order would work," he added. "As we have seen with Emirates, Canada always wants a quid pro quo. This is normal for commercial aviation. So Qatar Airways cannot keep them waiting forever." Qatar Airways secured traffic rights into Canada in the fourth quarter last year [for four cities]. The airline, with 98 aircraft in its fleet, said it would serve the Montreal route with a Boeing 777 aircraft. It announced an order for six more of this model during the recent Paris Air Show in a deal worth $1.7 billion (Dh6.24 billion) (in list prices). Overall, the carrier which last week got the "Airline of the Year 2011" award from Skytrax, has over $40 billion worth of aircraft orders for more than 200 aircraft. Dubai: Emirates along with other Gulf carriers such as Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, has been seeking additional landing rights in key markets such as Canada, Germany, Australia and the UK. While the battle between the Gulf and the other major global carriers has been dragging on, no agreement has been reached yet. Both Emirates and Etihad Airways, each of which currently operate three-times-a-week frequency to Toronto, are lobbying for daily frequency on the route. As Emirates President recently told Gulf News: If Canada wishes to take that position, we respect Canada for that. It is up to them. What we were trying to do is that in our own time we are using our own methods to try and persuade the Canadian government that it is good for them if we are allowed to fly at least daily into Toronto." Echoing his view is James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways. He recently said: "We are no threat to Canadian airlines or to Canadian aviation... Going to a minimum of daily is key." From / Gulf News