Japan Airlines is to launch the first direct flight to the Middle East operated by a Japanese airline with the addition of a new nonstop flight between Tokyo Haneda and Doha from Summer 2024.
The carrier is yet to publish the exact schedule for the new route, but the service with operate daily on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and tickets will go on sale once confirmed.
While unconfirmed, the decision by Japan Airlines to launch a new route to Doha was likely driven by Qatar Airways, which is already a codeshare partner with Japan Airlines and a fellow member of the Oneworld alliance.
Qatar Airways has made no secret of the fact that it wants to turn its Doha hub into a major Oneworld hub, hosting partner airlines and feeding connecting passengers into its vast network.
Although Qatar Airways dominates Doha Hamad International Airport, the airline has managed to convince several Oneworld partners to launch flights to Doha or expand their presence at the airport.
British Airways, Finnair Malaysia Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, and SriLankan Airlines all operate regular services to Doha. American Airlines also operates a nonstop daily flight from New York JFK to Doha as part of its massive codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways.
The fact that Doha is becoming such an important hub for the Oneworld alliance is a remarkable turnaround, given the fact that Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker threatened to quit the group in 2018.
Japan Airlines said on Monday that its new route to Doha would open up new possibilities for passengers to connect through to Africa and South America on Qatar Airways-operated services.
