Qatar Airways to fly to Miami from June 2014

by Devesh Agarwal

Image courtesy Qatar Airways

Flag carrier, Qatar Airways, has announced Miami to be its sixth destination in the United States with flights beginning June 10, 2014.

The airline will offer four non-stop flights a week from Doha using a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft in a two class configuration with 42 lie-flat seats in business class, and 217 seats in economy.

The proposed schedule dove-tails well with flights to the Indian sub-continent, which arrive in to Doha early morning, and depart at night.

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
QR777 departs Doha 08:40 (8:40am) arrives Miami MIA 17:20 (5:20pm). Travel time: 15h40m.
QR778 departs Miami 21:15 (9:15pm) arrives Doha 18:20 (6:20pm) the next day. Travel time: 14h20m.

As it prepares to enter the oneworld alliance, this is a good move by Qatar Airways as Miami is the gateway to Latin America for oneworld original member American Airlines. Qatar already operates to American's hub in Chicago, and to Houston, New York (JFK), and Washington D.C. (Dulles), and will add Philadelphia in April 2014.

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United Airways adds two new aircraft to its fleet

Courtesy Wikipedia. Image credit: Raihanspotter

Rapidly growing Bangladeshi private carrier United Airways has added two additional aircraft to its fleet. The aircraft are an ATR 72-200 registered as S2-AFU and a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 registered as S2-AEJ. The ATR 72-200 originated with LOT Polish Airlines, and then was transferred to LOT's regional subsidiary Eurolot before being sold to United Airways. Meanwhile, the MD-83 was delivered to US carrier Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1995, became part of American Airlines' fleet after American acquired TWA in 2001, and then was sold to United Airways earlier this year after being parked in 2012.

The aircraft become the 10th and 11th airplanes in United Airways' fleet, composed of 2x Airbus A310-300s, 3x ATR 72-200s, 5x MD-83s, and 1x Bombardier Dash 8 Q100. The carrier also has 4x BAE Jetstream 31s on order to grow domestic operations, and a further A310-300 on order for longer haul flights.

Chairman and Managing Director of United Airways Capt. Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury had this to say about the acquisitions:

These new addition of ATR-72 and MD-83 aircraft has increased the fleet strength of United Airways to Eleven. We definitely want to increase our fleet as this is the right time to procure desired aircraft to expand more domestic, regional and international destinations. The ATR-72 aircraft is having 64 economy class seats and the MD-83 aircraft 167 economy class seats.

United Airways serves 15 destinations (7 international) across Asia and the Middle East. It has its primary hub at Dhaka's Shajahlal International Airport.  

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Videos: Bangladesh Biman Boeing 777-300ER S2-AFO delivery flight and a low approach

In tribute and thanks to my dear friend and spotter guru M. Azizul Islam who is based in London but originally from Bangladesh. One of the most helpful people I have even had the pleasure of meeting in my lifetime. So here is for your enjoyment Aziz-da.

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Biman Bangladesh receives its first 777-300ER, the 300th overall delivered by Boeing

US airframer Boeing delivered the 300th of its 777-300ER wide body jetliner to Biman Bangladesh airlines. It was the carrier's first 777-300ER. The registration of the aircraft is S2-AFO.

Biman Bangladesh's first Boeing 777-300ER S2-AFO

The -300ER (extended range) is the most popular variant of the already popular 777 model. As of Sept. 30, 2011, the 777-300ER had 543 orders; the 777 program (all models) has received a total of 1,288 orders and the program has a backlog of 325 orders. The 777-300ER has been ordered by 37 customers around the globe. Twenty-seven customers now operate the 777-300ER; 10 additional customers will take delivery of their first 777-300ERs through 2014.

The 777-300ER can be distinguished from earlier models by the raked wingtip. Along with the other two variants of the 777 program, the 777-200LR (long range) and the 777F (freighter), the 777-300ER are powered exclusively by the General Electric GE90-115BL engine, the world's largest and most powerful commercial jet engine, producing 115,300 pounds (512 kn) of thrust. The diameter of each engine is equal to the fuselage of a Boeing 737 aircraft.

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