Qatar codeshare simplifies plane-to-train transfers

Qatar Airways is offering a seamless plane-to-train transfer for customers heading to Germany after signing a new codeshare agreement with German rail operator Deutsche Bahn. The deal builds on an existing Rail&Fly agreement and allows Qatar passengers landing at the airline's Frankfurt gateway to seamlessly transfer to high-speed ICE trains servicing the airport, which has its own train station. Codeshare agreements allow passengers to book travel on the partners, usually airlines,  using one ticket. READ: Boeing 777X out of paint shop and being prepared for first flight One advantage of a codeshare is that passengers are rebooked on another service if the originating flight is delayed. The Qatar-DB codeshare agreement applies to eight cities: Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Hannover, Leipzig, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Hamburg. Qatar operates 35 weekly flights, including two daily services to Frankfurt, between its Doha hub and Germany. It also offers two daily flights to Munich and one a day to Berlin. Qatar group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the codeshare would further strengthen the ties between Germany and Qatar. “We have witnessed significant growing demand between Germany to Qatar and beyond,’’ he said. “Our new codeshare destinations not only meet that demand, but provide a service for our valued passengers in Doha, and from dozens of destinations globally to new, exciting places to explore in Germany.” Deutsche Bahn passenger transport management board member Berthold Huber said the codeshare would offer the partners’ joint customers “a seamless, easy and flexible journey to and from different German cities”. Local carrier Lufthansa also has a deal with Deutsche Bahn and announced last year that it was significantly expanding its express rail options to and from Frankfurt. The increases involved rail services from Aachen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart and Ulm. Qatar Airways serves more than 160 business and leisure destinations with a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft and continues to expand its network. New destinations in 2020 include Luanda in Angola, and Osaka, Japan.