FIVE STAR AIRLINE SWITCHES AN INITIAL 5 AIRCRAFT FROM THE A350-900 TO THE A350-1000
(Posted 02nd October 2018)
Qatar Airways has announced that it has upgraded five of its current order of A350-900s to the higher-capacity A350-1000. The airline has already taken delivery of 30 A350 aircraft (27 A350-900 and three A350-1000) from the total order of 76 A350 XWBs.
The decision to upgrade the original order comes just eight months after the award-winning airline, which was the global launch customer for both A350 types, welcomed the first A350-1000 into its fleet. The strong performance of this state-of-the-art aircraft and the need for extra capacity on the world’s fastest growing airline are the key factors behind this latest announcement.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is delighted to have upgraded five of its previously ordered A350-900 to the more recently launched A350-1000. Since taking delivery of the world’s first A350-1000 in February 2018, we have been extremely pleased with the aircraft’s performance, which has prompted us to update our original order. The A350-1000 has been a welcome addition to our fleet and very well received by our passengers who enjoy the unprecedented levels of comfort and technology that this new generation aircraft offers.”
President Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Mr. Guillaume Faury in turn added: “Since its entry into service, the A350 family has proven outstanding reliability and efficiency. We are delighted to see launch customer Qatar Airways extend its confidence in the A350-1000. Qatar Airways is renowned for its standards of excellence, and we are pleased the A350-1000 delivers to their expectations, being the aircraft of choice to seamlessly increase capacity in unprecedented comfort on its growing long-haul routes.”
The A350-1000 is seven metres longer than its younger sibling and offers 28 per cent more capacity in the Premium class cabin. It also features the airline’s revolutionary Qsuite seat – said to make First Class redundant – which offers passengers a First Class experience in the Business Class cabin. The A350-1000 currently operates on the London and Frankfurt routes and will launch on the JFK service from 28 October 2018.
The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs.
The A350 XWB features an Airspace cabin, which on top of the aircraft spaciousness and quietness, provides better ambience, design and services, contributing to superior levels of comfort and well-being, and setting new standards in terms of flight experience for all passengers.
Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft flying to business and leisure destinations across six continents. The award-winning airline recently revealed a host of upcoming new global destinations, including Gothenburg, Sweden; Mombasa, Kenya and Da Nang, Vietnam.
Elsewhere in Eastern Africa does Qatar Airways serve Entebbe on a daily basis in conjunction with Kigali but also flies three times a day to the Kenyan capital Nairobi. In Tanzania does the airline serve three airports, Kilimanjaro International, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
