Airlines

Qatar Airways partners with Xiamen Airlines to enhance China-Qatar Connectivity

Qatar Airways is excited to announce a new codeshare agreement with Xiamen Airlines, the first Chinese airline to offer nonstop passenger flights from Mainland China to Qatar. Xiamen Airlines will begin daily flights between Beijing’s Daxing International Airport and Hamad International Airport, the home of Qatar Airways and its sophisticated and state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 aircraft, under the terms of the partnership agreement.’

The flights, which will start on October 20, 2023, will arrive in Doha at 22:45 and depart at 02:00, giving customers the best connections to important markets outside of Doha, including the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, through Qatar Airways’ extensive global network.

Xiamen Airlines switches to Airbus A320neo Family to boost fleet(Opens in a new browser tab)

Along with the flights from Beijing, Xiamen Airlines will begin operating two weekly flights to Doha from the special economic zone of Fujian Sheng province’s Xiamen. Beginning on October 31, 2023, the flights offer the same seamless access to Qatar Airways’ network as the Beijing flights, arriving in Doha from Xiamen at 5:00 in the morning and leaving that same city in the evening at 19:30.

In order to increase its footprint in Mainland China, which currently consists of 6 destinations served by a total of 31 weekly flights operated by Qatar Airways, along with double-daily flights to Hong Kong, the airline will codeshare on these new flights. As part of the new deal, Qatar Airways will fly flights to and from Beijing with Xiamen Airlines’ marketing code.

All-Boeing operator Xiamen Airlines takes delivery of its first A321neo(Opens in a new browser tab)

The new direct services from Beijing to Doha will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 that features a two-class configuration for 287 passengers, with 30 Business class seats and 257 in Economy class. The Xiamen-Doha-Xiamen service operated by a Boeing 787-8 will accommodate 237 passengers in three classes with 4 seats in First class, 18 in Business class and 215 in Economy class.

Related Topics:Qatar airways Xiamen airlines

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.