Once started, it’s rare for any Gulf carrier to abandon a route. But this is just what Qatar Airways is doing with its Stuttgart service which will no longer operate from the end of this summer’s timetable.
The three times a week service linking Stuttgart with Doha started in spring of last year. Initially flights were operated non-stop by a narrow-bodied A319 but the service was later upped to a larger A330 but it then operated one-stop via Zurich.
Qatar Airways has yet to issue an official statement so one finds it hard to understand the rationale behind this decision.
Stuttgart is one of Germany’s wealthiest cities and is the country’s “motown.” Its airport has almost no long distance air service so passengers must travel via a hub, either in Germany or elsewhere.
It has been on rival carrier Emirates' “wishlist” for a number of years but the present aviation treaty (between Germany and the UAE) is restrictive so Qatar Airways has had the route all to itself.
Qatar’s Stuttgart route will end on October 28.
For more information visit qatarairways.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
