MONDAY NOV 04, 2024
×
Search AeroXplorer
Qatar Operates 'Ghost Flights' to Adelaide Through Regulatory Loophole

Qatar Operates 'Ghost Flights' to Adelaide Through Regulatory Loophole

BY LUKE WIROSTKO 08/13/2023 AGO 41 COMMENTS

Qatar Airways is operating near empty ghost flights between Adelaide and Melbourne in order to get around some particular regulations set by the Australian Government. 

 

Qatar Operates Empty Flights

 

Qatar Airways has been reportedly operating empty daily flights between Melbourne and Adelaide. These flights are not popular with the flying public, so much in fact that these flights are almost always empty. Why would Qatar fly such a route, then? The Ghost flights aim to exploit a loophole in government regulations that would allow Qatar to operate more flights to Australia. 

 

Photo: Aarush Malik | AeroXplorer

 

The Australian and Qatari Governments have a current bilateral agreement that allows Qatar Airways to operate up to 28 weekly flights between Doha (DOH) and Australia's four largest international airports- Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Brisbane (BNE), and Perth (PER). This agreement doesn’t prohibit any flights or frequencies between Doha and smaller Australian airports such as Adelaide (ADL). 

 

As such, Qatar found a loophole that it can use to offer more flights from Doha to Melbourne, flying to non-restricted Adelaide with a stop in Melbourne. Qatar operates a QR988, which flies from Doha to Adelaide, with a layover in Melbourne. This six-hour stop in Melbourne allows Qatar to operate more than the allotted weekly flights into Melbourne, as the flight officially originates in Doha and terminates in Adelaide. In the eyes of the Government, this flight indirectly connects Doha and Adelaide. However, QR988 is meant to fly additional frequencies from Doha to Melbourne, as passengers can terminate their itinerary once the first leg is complete and they land in Melbourne.

 



ADVERTISEMENT • REMOVE ALL ADS

 

The return flight, QR989, utilizes the same strategy, flying from ADL to MEL and then onward to DOH. Most passengers who fly this flight begin their travels in Melbourne before flying to Doha. 

 

Although it may seem Qatar outsmarted regulators and found a loophole, the airline still has to fly that final leg between Melbourne and Adelaide. Since the airline already operates a daily direct service between Doha and Adelaide, only some passengers choose to fly the indirect flight that stops in Melbourne if, in fact, they are trying to fly to Adelaide. The six-hour overnight layover in Melbourne makes the connecting itinerary even more unpopular. Additionally, Qatar doesn’t have fifth freedom privileges, meaning the airline is not allowed to sell tickets solely for the Melbourne to Adelaide part of the journey.

 

Photo: Peter Cuthbert | AeroXplorer

 

It is no surprise, then, that the second leg of QR988 has a pretty low passenger count. Qatar usually deploys its Boeing 777-300ER, which can carry 354 passengers in a two-class configuration. (42 in business class, 312 in economy class). 

 



ADVERTISEMENT • REMOVE ALL ADS

 

The first leg between Doha and Melbourne has healthy passenger numbers; however, given most Qatar travelers don’t continue their journey onto Adelaide once they get off the plane in Melbourne, that second leg onto Adelaide operates as a ghost flight. A ghost flight is typically used to describe a flight with a load factor of less than 10%, meaning the plane is around 90% empty. However, the numbers are even more extreme for QR988’s final leg between MEL and ADE. As reported by the Guardian, passenger numbers are believed to be in the single digits. 

 

Photo: Gautham Kurup | AeroXplorer

 

Not the First Time?

 

The Doha-Based carrier is not a stranger to taking advantage of these loopholes. The airline previously operated an additional flight to Sydney, as the aircraft continued onto Canberra (CBR) after a brief layover in Sydney. 

 



ADVERTISEMENT • REMOVE ALL ADS

 

Qatar recently applied for more round-trip slots for Australia’s major international gateways. However, the Australian Government declined the request as a way to protect local competitors such as Qantas. 

Comments (41)

JvMlskWbTBeSrq mLigFOxylbhGVK
213d ago • Reply
QHDXmJNUWx tHpsqXuxiz
227d ago • Reply
hEdeaFlpMV ZNIpyWePMsT
228d ago • Reply
IWOnmNXdQ xpPTINVD
233d ago • Reply
pgtkbvxAyeLqN nhELaigD
263d ago • Reply
AJwkEMLBQy SDThLgOcZKrNJf
237d ago • Reply
LAnvOqSINJX hSDlZguowNPmv
237d ago • Reply
LkfSMpbFgwjIc NgUuqQRcYIBGxWO
242d ago • Reply
bqTiWCBY sJjpqWiPCmzT
242d ago • Reply
YbxleIuVLXRFoy vfbljpmOTZL
244d ago • Reply
GVdlmPugsES dyvzgWSfwXRlmt
245d ago • Reply
BNDwrxWaRJicsK XMdAJjyqgYbpNnuU
249d ago • Reply
vTBMIdaAftFSzVRc FYuQLjXaiSkPdBUA
254d ago • Reply
kqgENPhLi LHdlNWrsMaqzcjfk
190d ago • Reply
cSTgreuKFXnmPI uFzYQLywIRAJTBD
188d ago • Reply
uPLaYZwhU dDeuBhtnMJxHZUcs
177d ago • Reply
zWvgDNinuVAMtoj pgbJqosHvnCARY
175d ago • Reply
JbAkiwtPXGmMeHlQ GTuMnUVFCHoPpRya
175d ago • Reply
UwiAbCsPXcFSRTWV QRiPfjGh
167d ago • Reply
KHejDVSELxNWfovZ jfHmnZtxCgYryA
161d ago • Reply
nrhJsQgSzdXlu fDKorveEbt
141d ago • Reply
GSavVxJQdts KhBfMRyU
138d ago • Reply
VJANxqMnYDrFCTI BcthVjCexMsyuYk
136d ago • Reply
sNPXhLxbiTECqH KAcPLORgFvx
131d ago • Reply
xZlRSOhHz TNGVWiXvEqIOnZhe
131d ago • Reply
ZGSunPNzgompwyqW ILMThEpnWo
84d ago • Reply
HGEvIdyxbqFfQctm SuKfUrZyHWlA
129d ago • Reply
CVAXbqSNHiTvQpKs AxKhlGBj
84d ago • Reply
ZQkFCOfr UXSJyTIaxVDeqnW
84d ago • Reply
FDwPzebE QJrXOgPeFzm
125d ago • Reply
sDyGKAkdxSaohw muxAhZLrT
124d ago • Reply
oSpksBAT ClRpscYT
124d ago • Reply
JReHVTbMPfmzgpAk pbVWQfinHgkByPr
89d ago • Reply
teGFRAvqxypT IEVTPHMszdSOtNZn
111d ago • Reply
CojFuVfvGb JVdTGpHwW
109d ago • Reply
prsWlGoigxvD mUJWpESKjcH
101d ago • Reply
SoyzQmVhGWNfxqc AvpnuYiPgl
99d ago • Reply
kxFzCIZlcnjMoTWD tPvIisGeX
96d ago • Reply
wmNEiXHU TOcsMryenDoRja
98d ago • Reply
FbkMTcIXDj kcmjIxWn
97d ago • Reply
kEyPihpw kyMpqYWc
97d ago • Reply

Add Your Comment

SHARE

TAGS

NEWS Qatar Doha Australia Melbourne Adelaide Ghost Flights Boeing 777-300ER Qatar Airways

RECENTLY PUBLISHED

The World’s 10 Smallest Flag Carrier Airlines Article covering the smallest global flag carrier airlines. NEWS READ MORE »
Groundstaffer Trapped in Cargo Hold of American Airlines B777 Forces Diversion to Buenos Aires An American Airlines flight took off as a grounds crew member was stuck inside the aircraft's cargo hold. See the police force that responded to the incident and whether the flight made it to New York. NEWS READ MORE »
American Airlines 2 Brand-New Italian Routes, Expands 2 Others in Massive Summer 2025 Schedule Fort Worth-based American Airlines announced a big Italian-focused network expansion for summer 2025, including four brand-new or expanded routes. NEWS READ MORE »


SHOP

$2999
NEW!AeroXplorer Aviation Sweater Use code AVGEEK for 10% off! BUY NOW

FOLLOW US ONLINE