DOHA, 30 November 2007 — Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER “Dreamliner,” conspicuously painted in gray and red with the Arabian oryx at the back, landed pompously at Doha International Airport after the bride of the sky completed a long journey from Seattle, US.
The eye-catching livery of Qatar Airways’ newest and most anticipated member of its fleet is the first of 32 aircraft ordered by the airline as part of its expansion and growth plans both on the regional and international front. Delivery of new Boeing aircraft will continue through 2010. Qatar Airways has confirmed orders for fourteen Boeing 777-300Ers, six 777-200LRs and seven 777-200Fs.
The 335-seat aircraft features 42 seats in Business Class in a 2-2-2- configuration, each offering a generous pitch of 78 inches and individual TV screens measuring 15. 4 inches.
Businessmen or executives who are randomly on the move will have their hands full with over 700 entertainment options. The touch-screen TV operates in over 10 languages, with a wide selection of over 150 blockbuster movies to choose from, a selection of 200 TV channels, 50 video games and the ability to send emails or make phone calls or listen to music channels. Dozing off on an airplane has never been more enjoyable with three buttons on the right panel that instantly shift the seating chair into a 170 angle flat position or in a semi-rest position.
Economy class has 293 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration with a 32-inch pitch and a 10.6-inch TV screens. Both Business and Economy class cabins offer in-seat PC power supply.
The Boeing 777-200 freighters, which will be delivered from 2009, will enable Qatar Airways to build up an efficient cargo hub linking Europe and Asia, supplemented by its regional freighters.
Earlier this month, Qatar Airways strengthened its relationship with Boeing by confirming orders for 30 of the company’s next generation Boeing 787 aircraft, with options for another 30. The airline will be the first Middle East carrier to operate both Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s.
Speaking to the press in the ceremony, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker described the arrival of the Boeing 777 Dreamliner as “an exciting phase” in the history of the airline. “Years ago we were fully operating with Boeings. Then we transferred to Airbus. And now we operate both,” he said. “The purpose was not to diversify the aircraft. Boeing simply fitted better than its competitor,” he added.
The new aircraft will be used initially in regional flights and then operate in its Washington route in mid-December, Al-Baker said.
Asked why the airline continued to buy new aircraft despite losses, Al-Baker said “losses will not continue forever,” adding that by 2010 the airline will have achieved a balance where it can then focus on getting profits from its expansion routes and plans.
“Banks give loans to airlines not based on their names, or whether or not they are a national carrier nor not, but on their development schemes and growth,” he said.
Commenting on new routes, the CEO said the US is a market the airline had just entered.
He further said that there were chances to hold talks with Indian officials to increase routes to India, since the country was a rising economic power in which Qatar shared strong relations.
Currently the airline has routes to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi and Trivandrum.
Al-Baker emphasized, however, that what branded Qatar Airways as a five-star airline was not just the new aircraft, but the airline’s commitment to its customers to offer only the best and settle for nothing less. “Aircraft are flying longer distances non-stop. Inflight service levels are being raised to the highest standards, as passengers are becoming more demanding. Qatar Airways strives to be the best, which is why we continue to invest heavily in new aircraft and now introduce a brand new entertainment system,” he said, referring to the Oryx Entertainment system on the new aircraft.
Qatar Airways, one of the few five-star airlines operating in the Gulf and Middle East, is considered to be one of the world’s fasting growing airlines. It is the sole property of the government of Qatar.
Currently it operates a modern fleet of 60 aircraft to 80 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Far East, the Indian subcontinent and North America.
