Qatar Airways Targets May 15 Dreamliner Return

Qatar Airways aims to restart B787 Dreamliner services between Doha and London Heathrow from May 15.

The first of its four daily flights, QR075, is currently listed as a Dreamliner service on its booking engine – as is the return flight from London (QR076). Until that date, a mix of Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus aircraft (A340-600, A330-200) will continue to carry Gulf travellers between the two cities.

Qatar will be keen to restore B787 services as quickly as possible, not only on London but other high-traffic routes such as Perth, Chicago, Zurich, Delhi and Frankfurt. The airline has received five Dreamliners in a 30-plane firm order and has options for 30 more.

After three months of disruption, airlines with the Dreamliners on their books will be hoping the B787 doesn’t make the headlines again as they gear up for the summer.

Yesterday, an Ethiopian Airlines took off between Addis Ababa and Nairobi, becoming the first revenue Dreamliner flight since the global fleet was grounded in January after a series of battery-related fires.

Speaking on board, Randy Tinseth, Boeing’s vice president for Marketing, said he “wouldn’t hestitate to bring my family on this aircraft” in a bid to reassure the industry and travelling public of the Dreamliner’s safety.