Category: A350 XWB

Qatar Airways launches Asia’s Frist A350 XWB Service

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Qatar Airways, as the global launch customer for the A350 XWB, became the first airline to operate the world’s newest aircraft to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region today, with the inaugural A350 XWB service arriving in Singapore Changi Airport.

Upon touching down at Singapore Changi Airport, QR944 was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute, a long-held tradition to welcome special flights or planes to an airport, and an exclusive welcome ceremony.

Marwan Koleilat, Qatar Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, speaking at the welcome ceremony held at Changi Airport, said: “The A350 XWB is the third and final major new aircraft in a decade and Qatar Airways is delighted to be the first global airline to fly this state-of-the-art aircraft into Singapore and Asia Pacific.

“Singapore is a key market for Qatar Airways and we remain committed to offering our Singapore-based passengers the best in-flight experience possible. With the A350 XWB, all 283 passengers can be assured of unprecedented levels of comfort across all classes when travelling to Doha and onwards to key destinations in Europe and the Americas.”

Qatar Airways is the global launch customer for the A350 XWB, and remains the only airline to currently fly the world’s newest wide-body aircraft. Following Frankfurt, Singapore is only the second route for the world’s newest aircraft for which Qatar Airways was a significant contributor to its cutting-edge design in partnership with aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, and engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce.

The Business Class cabin has 36 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration featuring an 80-inch full flat bed and 17-inch HD in-flight entertainment screen. The Economy Class features 247 18-inch wide seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, each with a 10.6” in-flight entertainment screen, and more space at shoulder level for passengers in window seats due to the vertical side wall panel design.

The aircraft features the state-of-the-art Oryx entertainment system, with up to 2,000 entertainment options on individual screens in all classes. The A350 XWB also offers advanced air conditioning technology and LED mood lighting to enhance the comfort of passengers while reducing fatigue after a long flight, as well as in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity for all passengers allowing them to surf the web on the go.

Qatar Airways celebrates a ‘Year of the Fleet’ at ITB Berlin

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Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, announced the extension of the A350 XWB service throughout 2015, during the airline’s press conference, the first to take place on the opening day of the world’s largest tourism fair, ITB Berlin.

The press conference, attended by more than 100 international media, also celebrated Qatar Airways’ strong connections with Germany and highlighted the 10-year anniversary of the airline’s first flight to Berlin in 2005 with an A319 aircraft, a route now operated with an A330 wide-body aircraft.

Further expansion was also announced with the new routes of Durban, via Johannesburg in South Africa, which will debut this December, alongside the inaugural flight to Amsterdam, which takes place this June. Pakistan was also cited as a key growth market for the airline, with three new routes launching this summer to Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan, complementing the airline’s four existing gateways of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.

Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, commented: “The last 12 months have been characterised by significant fleet expansion for the airline, which is set to continue throughout 2015. This year we are pleased to be able to offer our passengers additional innovative new products within our broad destination network, most notably with the introduction of the world’s newest aircraft, the A350 XWB.

“It is fitting that we are back in Germany today, celebrating not only the recent launch of the A350 XWB on the Frankfurt route and the fact that this destination will soon be the recipient of the world’s second A350 XWB, but also acknowledging the 10-year anniversary of our Berlin route.”

Qatar Airways maintains a strong annual presence at ITB Berlin, highlighting its unique Five-Star offering and uses the show as a platform at which to update the travel industry on its latest products and initiatives. This year, not only is the airline celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its route to Berlin, but also the newly inaugurated A350 XWB’s first commercial route, for which the airline chose another of its German destinations, Frankfurt.