Qatar Airways reduces flight frequency on more than a dozen routes

Qatar Airways is reducing its frequency of flights on more than a dozen routes from Doha between June and October 2016 due to a shortage of aircraft.

Affected routes include the carrier’s recently launched Adelaide service, which will be reduced from seven to six weekly from August 1 to September 30.

It will also reduce its Birmingham service from eight to seven weekly from August 1 to October 29, Boston from seven to six weekly from July 6 to September 28 and Copenhagen from 14 to 13 weekly from August 3 to September 30.

Other affected destinations include Houston that will reduce from seven to six weekly from June 5 to August 28, Jakarta from 21 to 20 weekly between July 10 and September 30, Manchester from 16 to 15 weekly from August 2 to October 29 and Miami from seven to six weekly from June 1 to August 30.

In addition, the carrier’s Nairobi service will be cut from 21 to 20 weekly from July 7, reducing to 18 weekly from July 29 to October 29, Philadelphia from seven to five weekly from August 1 to August 29, Phuket from 11 to nine weekly from August 3 to August 31 and Pisa from seven to four weekly from September 8 to October 29.

Qatar’s Stockholm service will reduce from 10 to nine weekly from June 1 to June 30 and from 10 to eight weekly from August 1 to September 30. Its Vienna route will be cut from 12 to 10-11 weekly from August 1 to August 31.

Finally the launch of a three times weekly service to Sarajevo will be postponed from September 7 to November 2.

A Qatar Airways spokesperson said the flight cancellations were linked to delays in aircraft deliveries from European manufacturer Airbus.

“We are making selective flight cancellations in several markets … due to a delay in Airbus aircraft deliveries,” the spokesperson told Reuters.

“We are minimising the impact on our passengers as much as possible, and accommodating them on other flights that suit their travel needs. The flight cancellations are taking the form of one flight per week in most of the affected markets through the summer.”

The carrier’s delivery of A320neo aircraft from Airbus has been repeatedly delayed.

Qatar Airways was due to receive the first of 50 A320neos in December, but refused to take delivery due to concerns relating to the cool down cycle of the craft’s Pratt & Whitney engines in the Gulf region’s high temperatures.

Chief executive Akbar Al Baker said last month the airline would “walk away” from the four-to-six aeroplanes already due.

He said Qatar Airways had already spoken to Airbus rival Boeing regarding the issue and could even switch to the 737NG if the delays continue.