https://www.eturbonews.com/258...o-gaborone-botswana/



Qatar Airways announces direct flights to Gaborone, Botswana


Chief Assignment EditorJuly 17, 2019 15:18



Qatar Airways announced the launch of its new service to Gaborone, Botswana, starting 27 October 2019. The capital and largest city of Botswana will be the airline’s first destination in the African country.

The three-times weekly flights will be operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, featuring 36 seats in Business Class and 247 seats in Economy Class.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are excited to be launching three-weekly flights to Gaborone, another highly sought after destination in Africa. Qatar Airways is committed to growing our presence in Africa and adding to the 22 destinations in 15 countries we already offer. Our new service to the enchanting city of Gaborone will enable us to provide a seamless journey to and from Botswana, for passengers connecting from our extensive network of more than 160 destinations worldwide.”

Gaborone is the capital and the largest city in Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bounded by Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The nation’s vast nature and wildlife have made it a renowned destination for adventurous tourists from across the globe.



Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) to more than 160 destinations worldwide. The airline has recently launched an array of exciting new destinations, namely Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; and Mogadishu, Somalia. The airline will add Langkawi, Malaysia to its extensive route network in October 2019.


Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.

Flight schedule

(Sunday, Wednesday, Friday)



Doha-Johannesburg
QR1377: Departs DOH 06:55hrs, Arrives JNB 14:50hrs

Johannesburg-Gaborone
QR1377: Departs JNB 15:55hrs, Arrives GBE 16:50hrs

Gaborone-Johannesburg
QR1378: Departs GBE 18:35hrs, Arrives JNB 19:30hrs

Johannesburg-Doha
QR1378: Departs JNB 20:40hrs, Arrives DOH 06:35hrs+1

Cannot be direct if they fly through Joberg??

Am I missing something here??

maybe a direct flight with a stopover without needing a connection ...

Or fuel?

The flight from Doha to JNB is only about 8 1/2 hours in an Airbus 350. It would easily carry enough fuel to continue on to Gaborone, which is only a little over an hour of flying time. In fact it would have enough fuel to continue back to JNB, refuel there, then go back to Doha. Direct is different from non stop. SAA and Delta flights from USA to RSA are considered direct, even though they may refuel in Dakar.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Cannot be direct if they fly through Joberg??
Am I missing something here??

Airline parlance:
DIRECT = same flight number regardless of scheduled intermediate stops
NON STOP = just that; no intermediate stops origin to ticketed destination

Years ago I flew on BA to Gaborone with a stop in JNB. From LHR. Not sure if they still offer that flight.

Probably like the "direct flight" to Dar... stops in Arusha to let customers off and on the plane. Can't be that many folks wanting to fly to Gaborone so the Jo'burg leg makes it possible. Think of this, you don't have to get out in Jo'burg and go through the rifle hassle to spend the night and catch the next morning's flight.