Qatar Airways looking at introducing flights from Ireland

Middle eastern airline Qatar Airways is weighing the possibility of launching flights from Ireland as it seeks to expand its European business.

The carrier operates services to Doha in Qatar from Heathrow and Manchester airports in England and Edinburgh in Scotland, while it is due to begin flying from Birmingham next March.

Its country manager for the UK and Ireland Richard Oliver said yesterday the airline is considering launching services from Dublin or Belfast. Qatar picks up Irish travellers who connect to its flights from Britain, particularly at Heathrow, while its main rivals, Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad, both operate out of Dublin.

The airline has boosted capacity at Heathrow by swapping an Airbus A319 for a Boeing 787 in a move that will cut business seats but which Qatar calculates will boost overall revenue.