Iberia is going to join the British Airways/Qatar Airways Joint Venture operation (or the Qatar Joint Business Agreement).
The move commences in July, with a route being born out of this – an Iberia Operated flight to be operated between Madrid Barajas International Airpot and Hamad International Airport, flying daily.
The new flight is due to commence on the 11th of December 2023, which will utilise an Airbus A330-200 with 288 seats in Business and Economy cabins.
With Iberia’s flight, there will be three daily flights between Madrid and Doha, providing connectivity between the Iberian Peninsula and key markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The partnership will allow passengers to access over 200 destinations operated by the three airlines, with more options from a wide geographic range of destinations, flight schedules, fares, and seamless connectivity via Doha, London, and Madrid, as well as a larger selection of award-winning products, including Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, Iberia’s Business Class, and British Airways’ Club Suite.
Furthermore, customers from across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia can enjoy seamless travel to Madrid, Lisbon, Ibiza, Malaga, Gran Canaria, and tens of other destinations across Spain and Portugal.
And of course, these three airlines have one thing in common – a currency. members of Iberia Plus, British Airways Executive Club, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club can collect and spend using their common currency, Avios. Loyalty members are able to transfer Avios between accounts and combine their balances to claim rewards offered by each programme.
In Quotes
Iberia CEO, Fernando Candela, commented:
“Joining the QJB with Qatar Airways and British Airways is excellent news for our customers. We are really excited about the launch of our Madrid-Doha route. Through QJB hubs in London and Doha, we are building the much-desired bridge between Spain and more than 200 destinations in Asia, Australasia, the Middle-East, and Africa, and offering new opportunities for travelers in both directions. Our country is moving towards a new model of higher-quality tourism and, with the Madrid-Doha launching, we are making a breakthrough.”
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr Akbar Al Baker said:
“At Qatar Airways, we believe in connecting travellers to their destinations of choice and our recent enhancement to the highly successful joint business with British Airways, includes the addition of another oneworld member, Iberia. Our passengers will now have more opportunities than ever to connect to different destinations across the British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways networks. This collaborative effort comes as part of our commitment to continuously improve the offerings available to our passengers and provide them with the best in the industry.”
British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, Sean Doyle, said:
“Last year we expanded our joint business partnership with Qatar Airways with the addition of 42 countries, and I’m so pleased to see it growing even further as we welcome Iberia on board. We’re committed to offering our customers as much choice as possible and working so closely with our partners in Madrid and Doha connects British Airways to more than 200 destinations globally.”
More options
For those travelling between Spain and Portugal to Doha and beyond (and there are a lot of options at Hamad International Airport), this will be a useful link for Iberia-loyal passengers.
It also opens up more options for segment-focused flyers who like to take a scenic route somewhere, as opposed to a direct flight, whilst allowing three airlines to coordinate operations and pricing.
An increase in connectivity is something that is to be welcomed – even if it is cooperation, rather than in competition.
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