NEWS FLASH
The Macedonian Minister for Transport and Communications, Blagoj Bačvarski, has held talks with the Qatari Ambassador to the country, Jassim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, where he emphasised the need for Qatar Airways to restore services between Doha and Skopje. The flights were suspended at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, in March 2020, and have not resumed since. "Cooperation between the two countries is very important in order to connect both the people and our economies. It is especially important for us to renew the flights between Skopje and Doha, in order to maintain business relations between the two countries”, Mr Bačvarski said. In 2019, most passengers flying between the two capital cities were transfers. The majority either originated or were destined for the Australian market – 33%, followed by India 7%, Thailand 5% and Singapore 4%. These markets are only now beginning to reopen for international travel in some form. Commenting on the Skopje service suspension, Qatar Airways previously told EX-YU Aviation News, “Many routes remain commercially unviable due to the significant drop in global demand for air travel. An ongoing review is being conducted and the intention is to reinstate flights in line with a return to regular conditions and market demand”.
QR is not coming back because there aren't any passengers to carry until Australia opens. QR just announced Odessa flights so it's not like they are not growing if there is an opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThe airlines keep proving you wrong!...
DeleteNo, they don't.
DeleteThey won’t be back that soon. The ex Yu diaspora in Australia is also one of the loudest anti vax. The Australian government is only appearing fully vax citizens and residents to depart from 1 November. Currently there is about 8% in NSW, and 23% in VIC which are not vax, even with a single dose. That rule isn’t changing any time soon either.
DeleteWhat about the Macedonians that are vaccinated, that are eager to go back and visit... there are many of them! Prove it that the Macedonian community in Australia is one of the so called “LOUDEST” anti-vax community in Australia! Prove it....!
DeleteProve that they are not? I live in Australia and have friends and colleagues in all ex Yu communities. I see and hear what they say.
DeleteWell Australia will open from Nov 1st so it might be a good idea for QR to come back
ReplyDeleteYes but only two Australian states are opening for international travel and it only applies for Australian citizens and residents.
DeleteThe ones with the most originating passengers for SKP, Melbourne and SYDNEY! This talk is absolutely nuts!
DeleteA380 with super cheap seats could work
ReplyDeleteMore like 90% transit to Australia and a few passengers to Qatar.
ReplyDeleteYou have the passenger structure in the article. It can't be 90% transit to Australia throughout the year.
DeleteHow many nmk live in Australia?
DeleteYes for sure most of them bound to AUS, but do not forget Dubai is open (big Macedonian diaspora and big tourist destination), MLE , ZNZ , SEZ ,BKK,HKT ,DPS with enormous tourism potential which were doing good before closure ,business destinations like SIN,NRT, India. Other ex-Yu stations were surviving throughout the pandemic from groups bound to ZNZ ,MLE which for their luck were open for tourist. Potential is there just QR has to work on the market more and be more flexible , TK has fully booked daily flights with transit pax to destinations in the Eastern H. , and you can't compare QR service and fleet with TK.
DeleteSkopje was a very smal airport for an airline such as Qatar Airways.
ReplyDeleteThey barely fly to ZAG.
The rationale for QR to fly to SKP was never the size of the airport, but mostly to cater for the Macedonian diaspora in Australia & NZ
DeleteThis flight has a single purpose... chip away at TK's dominance.
ReplyDelete