Faisal Mansour

Faisal worked six years as Aviation Week’s regional stringer in Doha, covering Qatar Airways’ fleet decisions, the Gulf-three competitive dynamics, and the broader fifth-freedom strategy that defines how the region’s hubs interlock with global aviation. He went independent in 2021 and now consults for an industry-research firm in addition to writing.

He writes for airport.flights as a paid freelance contributor, one to two pieces a month focused on the Gulf hub competition, Qatar Airways as a network and a brand, and the analytical view of how DOH compares to its larger neighbour DXB on operational grounds rather than marketing claims. His beat is the analyst’s view of premium-cabin aviation expressed through airport-level decisions.

He lives in West Bay, flies DOH almost by default, and contends that Hamad’s Al Mourjan business-class lounge is the most under-appreciated flagship lounge in the world, partly because the room next door at the First product is so good that the comparison is unfair.