Airport expansions

[camflyer]

Naturally. But not enough to cause them to decamp to the Essex countryside. It is telling that Dubai and Amman are the longest haul flights from Stansted.

It would be good to see Qatar Airways operating a daily flight from Stansted to give a OneWorld option from the Essex Aerodrome. Emirates seems to do well enough out of STN and there should be sufficient demand from the North London/M11/Cambridge corridor.

 

[AlterEgo]

It would be good to see Qatar Airways operating a daily flight from Stansted to give a OneWorld option from the Essex Aerodrome. Emirates seems to do well enough out of STN and there should be sufficient demand from the North London/M11/Cambridge corridor.

Emirates being there and sucking up the demand is exactly why you wouldn't send flights there if you're Qatar Airways. Emirates also appeals to a different market.

 

[camflyer]

Emirates being there and sucking up the demand is exactly why you wouldn't send flights there if you're Qatar Airways. Emirates also appeals to a different market.

I'm not so sure. Both airlines operate out of Gatwick, they are unlikely to get any more slots at Heathrow and if they do serve different markets then there should be room for both of them at Stansted.

 

[TravelDream]

Emirates being there and sucking up the demand is exactly why you wouldn't send flights there if you're Qatar Airways. Emirates also appeals to a different market.

They appeal to very similar markets.
They both heavily rely on the transit market for volume. UK <-> India/ Pakistan/ Bangladesh, UK -> Thailand, and UK <-> Australia/ NZ in particular. They both also heavily sell their 'premium' experience - both being highly mixed (middle seat in business on the Emirates 777 or one of Qatar's ancient and poorly maintained A330s anyone? (both being gradually removed before anyone complains)). Obviously there are differences. Emirates having more point to point passengers vs. connecting compared to Qatar for example.

Stansted is the closest airport to a very large and relatively well off market (North/ North East London, Essex, Cambridgeshire). Plenty of reasons they might choose to operate there.
It's all about yield and whether it would provide a decent return for them. Obviously I don't have access to Qatar's numbers, but Stansted certainly seems more viable to me than, say, a return to Cardiff where they flew for a couple of years.

 

[AlterEgo]

They appeal to very similar markets.

Qatar appeals significantly more to high net worth individuals and wealthy family groups, corporate business and high yield traffic. They offer a very different - quite sedentary and conservative - experience to the more democratised Emirates. The passenger mix on both airlines is noticeably different.

Stansted is the closest airport to a very large and relatively well off market (North/ North East London, Essex, Cambridgeshire). Plenty of reasons they might choose to operate there.
It's all about yield and whether it would provide a decent return for them. Obviously I don't have access to Qatar's numbers, but Stansted certainly seems more viable to me than, say, a return to Cardiff where they flew for a couple of years.

Stansted already has Emirates. Assuming they're picking from the same pool of passengers - which they aren't in my view - do we really think the airport can support two ME3 carriers? Stansted is exactly the sort of place Qatar do *not* fly to.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Qatar appeals significantly more to high net worth individuals and wealthy family groups, corporate business and high yield traffic. They offer a very different - quite sedentary and conservative - experience to the more democratised Emirates. The passenger mix on both airlines is noticeably different.

I think it depends on the cabin. But, once you get past the marketing guff, I don't actually think there's much in it.

Emirates' fares in economy are usually cheaper than Qatar's, but that seems to be a consequence of using the A380. More seats to fill means lower fares to fill them. Qatar (and Etihad) tend to use much smaller aircraft.

In premium cabins I don't think there's much difference at all. Qatar have removed lounge access from the lowest tier Business Class fares, which doesn't exactly scream "appealing to high net worth individuals" to me.

Not that I see Qatar or Etihad going to Stansted any time soon. I also have a feeling that the self-loading freight isn't the main reason why Emirates fly to Stansted; like Newcastle, it probably has more to do with what's inside the 777's enormous belly.

 

[TravelDream]

Qatar appeals significantly more to high net worth individuals and wealthy family groups, corporate business and high yield traffic. They offer a very different - quite sedentary and conservative - experience to the more democratised Emirates. The passenger mix on both airlines is noticeably different.

Have to agree with @Tetchytyke here, sorry.

 

[sh24]

Emirates business class is a triumph of branding over substance. Most of their 777 fleet lack flat beds!

Qatar is certainly more grown up and mature in appearance e.g. lack of gold gilt and Arthur Daley style walnut panelling.

 

[Bald Rick]

Qatar appeals significantly more to high net worth individuals and wealthy family groups, corporate business and high yield traffic. They offer a very different - quite sedentary and conservative - experience to the more democratised Emirates. The passenger mix on both airlines is noticeably different.

You’ll know better than me, but I think Qatar gets a fair amount of code share transit traffic off BA / AA into Heathrow, which obviously they wouldn’t at Stansted.