Qatar Airways to launch 21-hour South America route

Qatar Airways is set to launch a new triangular route from its main hub at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) next month, connecting two new South American destinations with flights lasting up to 20 hours and 50 minutes.

The new destinations are El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá and Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) in Caracas. The latter is particularly significant as it will make Qatar Airways the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, reports aviation-based news portal Simple Flying.

However, one of the two destinations is now in jeopardy, as Venezuela's main international airport has been closed indefinitely after two powerful earthquakes struck the country in quick succession. Simón Bolívar International Airport, also known as Maiquetía, was shut down after sustaining extensive damage to its runways and terminal buildings.

Operating twice a week, the route is aimed not only at point-to-point traffic between South America and Doha but also at passengers making onward connections through the oneworld member's Middle Eastern hub. Qatar Airways expects particularly strong demand for connections to Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

On July 22, Qatar Airways will begin operating its new triangular route to South America. The first flight will operate from Doha to Caracas, then onwards to Bogotá, before returning to Doha. Thereafter, the route will operate in the opposite direction, flying non-stop to Bogotá and returning to Doha via Caracas. This arrangement will help address payload restrictions, which are particularly significant due to Bogotá's high elevation.

The maximum one-stop block time on the route between December and July is 20 hours and 50 minutes. Flights will operate twice a week, departing Doha on Wednesdays and Sundays. They will be operated as flight QR783 in both directions, with a 90-minute ground stop in Bogotá followed by a two-hour stopover in Caracas.

The airline said in a statement: "The service represents a significant milestone for the airline, as Qatar Airways becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela and the first airline to operate flights from the Middle East to Caracas and Bogotá."

According to Cirium, an aviation analytics company, Qatar Airways will deploy Boeing 777-200LR widebody twinjets on the new triangular route. Fleet data from ch-aviation shows that the Doha-based flag carrier currently operates six of the aircraft, with an average age of 16.4 years.