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| from left: Chairman, QACC, Mr. Abdullah Nasser Turki Al Subaey; Qatar Ambassador to Bahrain, H.E. Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani; President of Airbus, Mr. Fabrice Bregier; Qatar Minister of Transportation, H.E Mr. Jassim Al Sulaiti; Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker; H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi Director General of the General UAE CAA; and the Director General of QAC, H.E Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al Thani. |
DOHA, QATAR – Qatar Airways is starting 2016 with an expansion programme across Eastern Europe, enabling passengers to benefit from a wide range of additional flight options via Doha’s Hamad International Airport.
The further expansion by the award-winning airline into Eastern Europe adds a further level of choice for passengers travelling between Croatia, Hungary and Azerbaijan and anywhere in the airline’s extensive global network. Flights to Zagreb and Budapest are increasing to a 10-weekly service from a current daily service from 3 April and 3 July respectively, while flights to Baku are increasing to an 11-weekly service, also from a current daily scheduled flight, from 27 March.
Qatar Airways is also launching new direct flights from Doha to Belgrade from 16 March, a destination currently served by the airline via Sofia, enhancing the journey time to and from the capital of Serbia on the four-weekly schedule.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is expanding rapidly, not only in terms of new places and our network offering, but also with the service we offer. Complementing our service in the skies are our transfer facilities at the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport, coupled with the experience of flying on board one of the youngest fleets in the industry.”
In response to increasing demand, one of the airline’s double-daily services to Moscow Domodedovo International Airport is currently served with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which offers 122 more seats per departure than the A320 aircraft previously used for this flight. The Qatar Airways Boeing 787 has 254 seats in total: 22 Business Class seats with a 1-2-1 configuration, and 232 Economy Class seats with a 3-3-3 configuration. All seats in Business Class recline at 180 degrees, turning into a fully flat bed.
Meanwhile flights to Warsaw will be upgraded to the Airbus A330 aircraft from 1 July this year, increasing seat capacity on the daily scheduled service from Doha. The Airbus A320 currently serves Warsaw and the second daily frequency service to Moscow.
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 19 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 175 aircraft to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.
Qatar Airways celebrated one year anniversary of A350 operations at the Bahrain Airshow
Qatar Airways celebrated its one year anniversary of A350 operations by hosting royal guests, media and trade partners at its dedicated chalet on the first day of Bahrain International Airshow, the first aviation show of the year.
At the event, which marked the anniversary, were Qatar’s Minister of Transportation, His Excellency Mr. Jassim Al Sulaiti; Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker; President & CEO of Airbus, Mr. Fabrice Bregier; Chairman of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Mr. Abdullah Nasser Turki Al Subaey; Qatar’s Ambassador to Bahrain, His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani; Director General of General United Arab of Emirates Civil Aviation Authority, His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi and; Director General of Qatar Aeronautical College, His Excellency Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al Thani.
Qatar Airways’ A350 was the first A350 to enter commercial service in January 2015, and now flies to four destinations – Frankfurt, Munich, Philadelphia and Singapore – across three continents; Asia, Europe and North America.
Pictured at Qatar Airways’ celebration of its one year anniversary of A350 operations, along with the airline’s cabin crew are from left: Qatar Ambassador to Bahrain, H.E. Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani; President & CEO of Airbus, Mr. Fabrice Bregier; Qatar Minister of Transportation, H.E. Mr. Jassim Al Sulaiti; and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker.
Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2016 was opened by His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representitive of His Majesty the King and Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS and is taking place at the Sakhir Airbase in Bahrain. A number of VIP delegates visited Qatar Airways’ chalet on the opening day and were given an exclusive tour of the airline’s A350, A380 and G650ER by H.E. Mr. Al Baker.
H.E. Mr. Al Baker, who met with local and international media, said: “Qatar Airways is excited to participate in the region’s first air show of the year, and Bahrain has already delivered beyond our expectations. We chose this event to celebrate the one year anniversary of our A350 operations, and the public and industry are welcome to tour the very latest in aircraft technology, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with them.”
On the first day of the show, Qatar Airways’ A350 drew the attention of visitors including aviation enthusiasts and members of the news media with its custom-designed interiors and innovative aircraft design. Offering the latest in design and technology, and combined with Qatar Airways’ award-winning service, the A350 has taken the passenger experience to the highest level. Qatar Airways operates the largest number of A350s in the world with seven of this aircraft type in its young fleet. During its one year of operations the Qatar Airways A350 flies to Frankfurt, Munich, Singapore and Philadelphia. Upcoming A350 routes include Adelaide in Australia and Boston in Eastern USA.
Qatar Airways’ modern fleet of 175 aircraft, comprising of the A380 and A350, and along with the 787 Dreamliner, is among the youngest and most efficient fleets in the world, meeting long-haul passenger demand on the airline’s rapidly expanding network.
Also, Qatar Executive, Qatar Airways’ corporate jet division, revealed its new Gulfstream G650ER and officially welcomed the aircraft into the fleet with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Bahrain International Air Show.
The aircraft was inaugurated by Qatar’s Minister of Transportation, His Excellency Mr. Jassim Al Sulaiti; and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker.
H.E. Mr. Al Baker said: “We are delighted to reveal the Gulfstream G650ER here at the Bahrain International Airshow. It is with enormous pride that we welcome the industry’s most advanced business jet into our fleet. We look forward to offering our valued and discerning customers the opportunity to experience this new-generation aircraft, the next time they fly with Qatar Executive.”
It was the first time the jet has been showcased to the public since it was handed over to Qatar Executive by Gulfstream at its headquarters in Savannah in December 2015. This aircraft is the first of an order by Qatar Executive for up to 30 business jets, including its all-new G500 and G600, for which the airline is the global launch customer.
As the world’s largest and fastest civilian aircraft, the Gulfstream G650ER is one of the most sought-after business jets thanks to its phenomenal range, industry-leading cabin technology and unparalleled cabin comfort.
The Qatar Executive G650ER aircraft can fly non-stop from the Middle East to North America or from destinations in Asia to Africa – farther, faster than any other jet of its kind – and is perfectly suited for those whose travel needs include flying halfway around the globe.
With the largest panoramic windows of any aircraft in the world of business aviation, the industry’s lowest cabin noise levels and excellent payload-carrying capability, customers will receive a premium charter experience, while they immerse themselves in the understated luxury and timeless elegance of the aircraft’s cabin interior.
The G650ER’s cabin is not only comfortable but also contains the most advanced technology. Productivity features include satellite communications, high-speed internet and wireless local area network, which allows guests to use the jet as an “office in the sky”.
The Gulfstream’s Cabin Management System further enables passengers to control a wide range of cabin features such as the window shades, lighting, cooling and the vast entertainment options.
Qatar Executive’s ultra-long range G650ER has a two-cabin configuration and a capacity for up to 13 passengers. Seats convert into fully-flat beds so that seven guests can easily sleep on board. The aft cabin features a comfortable three-seat divan made of the finest woollen fabrics by the exquisite luxury label Loro Piana.
Further stand-out features of the Gulfstream G650 are the fact it has the lowest equivalent cabin altitude of any business jet and the cabin air is replenished 100 per cent every two minutes.
The G650ER can travel 7,500 nm/13,890 km at Mach 0.85 and 6,400 nm/11,853 km at Mach 0.90 – so customers can travel at 90 per cent of the speed of sound.
The G650ER joins Qatar Executive’s existing long-range fleet of eight modern Bombardier aircraft, including three Challenger 605s, four Global 5000s, a Global XRS, and a 40-seat Airbus A319 All-Premium Class aircraft, all available for worldwide charter.
