Summary
- Qatar Airways has resumed its direct flights from Doha to Auckland, the longest route in its network, using Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.
- The airline hasn’t operated direct flights to Auckland for over three years due to the pandemic, instead using stopovers in Brisbane and Adelaide.
- Passengers flying from Auckland to Doha can access Qatar Airways’ extensive network of over 160 destinations, and enjoy the comfort of the airline’s modern A350-1000s with its award-winning QSuite business class seats.
Qatar Airways is celebrating the return of its longest direct route – Doha to Auckland – following the resumption of flights this month. The airline has deployed its Airbus A350-1000 fleet to operate the 16-hour journey, which will run on a daily schedule.
Qatar reinstates Doha-Auckland service
The airline’s first direct flight from Doha to Auckland since the pandemic successfully touched down yesterday, marking the return of Qatar’s longest direct route. The flight took off from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) at 09:02, arriving at Auckland Airport (AKL) at 09:41+1.
The airline hasn’t flown direct to Auckland in over three years since suspending services over the COVID pandemic. However, it has provided service to New Zealand’s biggest city since then via stopovers at Brisbane, then Adelaide, which it continued up until August 31st.
Auckland Airport commented,
“Today, we were thrilled to welcome back Qatar Airways non-stop Auckland to Doha service. Operating state-of-the-art A350-1000 complete with award-winning QSuite business class seats, Qatar is flying daily non-stop to its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport.”
Passengers flying from Auckland to Doha can access Qatar’s huge network of over 160 destinations. It will also offer the perfect excuse to fly on one of the airline’s modern A350-1000s.
Two-class A350-1000 service
Qatar’s A350-1000s are fitted with 46 of its business ‘QSuites’, along with 281 seats in economy. Simple Flying has reviewed the QSuite on several occasions, rating it as one of the best business class cabins out there – all of Qatar’s A350-1000s have this product onboard.
Photo: Qatar Airways
The airline will operate a daily service on the following schedule:
- QR920 – Departs Doha at 01:50, arrives in Auckland at 02:45+1.
- QR921 – Departs Auckland at 15:00, arrives in Doha at 23:15.
After grounding much of its A350 fleet over the pandemic, Qatar Airways has gradually reactivated its widebodies this year. By January 2023, seven of the airline’s 19 A350-1000s were listed as parked – having taken delivery of five more this year, all 24 of Qatar’s longer A350 variants are in service, with only ten of its -900s still on the ground.
About Qatar’s longest route
The carrier first launched Doha-Auckland in February 2017 – at the time, it became the longest route in the world since surpassed by Singapore Airlines. It is now the world’s third-longest scheduled commercial flight, coming in behind Singapore Airlines’ services from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to New York JFK Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty Airport (EWR).
The 14,500km+ route is blocked at 15 hours and 55 minutes for the outbound and 17 hours and 15 minutes for the return leg. Qatar previously used its Boeing 777-200LR fleet for this service.
Have you ever flown on Qatar Airways’ Doha-Auckland route? What is the longest route you have ever flown? Let us know your stories in the comments.
Check out more Qatar Airways flights here.
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Qatar Airways’ Airbus A350-1000 has a capacity of 327 passengers. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying Qatar Airways
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- QR/QTR
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Doha Hamad International Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1993
- Alliance:
- oneworld
- CEO:
- Akbar Al Baker
- Country:
- Qatar
