DOHA- Qatar Airways (QR), a major Gulf carrier, is developing another new long-haul route, this time connecting Doha (DOH) and Bogota (BOG) with a stop in Caracas (CCS).
The airline intends to operate this service twice weekly with its current long-haul aircraft, which includes Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 777-300ERs. This strategic development coincides with Qatar’s developing diplomatic and commercial connections with Colombia.
Qatar Airways Doha to Bogota Flight
The Caracas technical stop addresses an important operational difficulty. Due to Bogota’s high altitude, direct flights to Doha have substantial payload limits.
The lower-altitude Caracas airport allows full-capacity operations without sacrificing range or cargo. This technical stop adds only five miles to the overall route distance.
Aeronáutica Civil stated on X that,
“Colombia and Qatar are moving forward to make an air route between the two countries a reality! Qatar Airways requested authorization to operate the route: Doha – Bogotá – Caracas (technical stop) – Doha, with two weekly frequencies and on Boeing B777-300ER and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.”
The route’s strong statistics highlight its importance within Qatar Airways’ network.
The Doha-Bogota part is 8,261 miles long, while the return route is divided into two legs: 636 miles from Bogota to Caracas and 7,630 miles to Doha. Qatar Airways’ longest route is to its New Zealand service, which covers slightly over 9,000 miles.
Qatar Airways’ South American presence is currently focused on twice-daily flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil. The airline’s investment in LATAM Airlines (LA) provides important connectivity options throughout Central America and northern South America due to Bogota’s hub position.
This development follows Emirates’ recent foray into the Colombian market with its Miami (MIA)-Bogota service, which will debut in June 2024.
However, Qatar Airways’ direct routing avoids the need for a transit visa in the United States, providing customers with a more efficient journey between the Middle East and Colombia.
Emirates Dubai to Bogota via Miami
This year, Emirates Airlines launched its first route to Bogota, Colombia, marking a substantial expansion of its Americas network. The new route adds Bogota as Emirates’ fourth South American destination, bringing its total Americas network to 19.
The inaugural flight EK213 was greeted ceremonially at El Dorado International Airport’s gate A14 by traditional Colombian dancers, emphasizing the cultural significance of this new connection.
Emirates uses its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for this daily trip, introducing first-class passenger service on the Miami-Bogota route. The aircraft’s three-class arrangement includes eight private first-class suites, 42 lie-flat business class seats, and 304 economy class seats.
Following the launch ceremony, the airline showed off its aircraft’s premium amenities to government officials, media representatives, and travel industry professionals at a showcase event.
Flight EK213 departs Dubai at 02:15, arrives in Miami at 10:05, takes off again at 12:05, and lands in Bogota at 14:55. The return flight EK214 left Bogota at 17:19, arrives in Miami at 22:15, departs at 00:45 the following day, and arrives in Dubai at 23:00 (all times local).
Emirates’ recent codeshare agreement with Avianca broadens connectivity possibilities, allowing passengers to reach three Colombian cities – Bogota, Medellin, and Cali – via connections from Madrid, Barcelona, and London Heathrow.
The route’s inauguration takes advantage of developing UAE-Colombia relations, with Colombians emerging as the largest Latin American community in the UAE and expatriate numbers growing rapidly.