Qatar Airways’ first A350 XWB and the airline’s fourth A380 move along the runway ahead of take-off from Toulouse in France, bound for Doha.
It was a historic moment for national carrier Qatar Airways when the world’s first Airbus A350 XWB (Xtra Wide Body) and the airline’s fourth A380 arrived in Doha simultaneously yesterday.
The delivery of the newest members of Qatar Airways’ fleet of 146 aircraft are the first of 80 A350s and fourth of 13 A380s on order, allowing the airline to further capitalise on its rapid expansion plans.
“The A350 aircraft, for which Qatar Airways is the global launch customer, is set to commence service on the Doha-Frankfurt route starting in January 2015,” the airline announced in a statement yesterday.
The world’s first A350 XWB aircraft to be delivered was flown to Doha from France, following the handover ceremony and press conference attended by Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar al-Baker, senior Airbus and Rolls Royce officials and more than 150 international media in Toulouse.
With the delivery of the A350 XWB, Qatar Airways becomes the first airline in the world to operate every family of Airbus’ modern airliner portfolio, comprising the A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380.
After acquiring the A380 earlier this year, the addition of the A350 XWB aircraft is the second significant fleet milestone for Qatar Airways in 2014. The A350 XWB features the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies and will set new standards in passenger experience, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Welcoming the arrival of Qatar Airways’ first A350 XWB and its latest A380 in Doha, al-Baker said: “We take immense pride in taking delivery of two aircraft at the same time, joining our modern and dynamic fleet that is connecting the world. As 2015 commences, we are looking forward to a new period of enhanced growth with our fleet setting fresh benchmarks for the aviation industry.
“The A350 XWB, in combination with the recently-introduced A380, will offer unprecedented levels of interoperability and a highly efficient solution to meet long-haul passenger demand on the rapidly expanding Qatar Airways network. This will further strengthen our leadership position as a world-class airline providing customers with a premium five-star travel experience, exceptional hospitality and seamless connectivity around the globe.”
The Qatar Airways A350 XWB, powered by two new-generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, is a perfect combination of innovative airline product design, environmental advances and the intrinsic comfort of an entirely new cabin set-up, which are the hallmarks of this aircraft.
Passengers will benefit from a new boarding experience achieved by a unique dome-design entrance with welcome light distribution. The aircraft also offers wide seats with generous room in all classes of service thanks to a number of design developments offering greater comfort to all passengers.
The Business Class cabin has 36 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration featuring an 80” full flat bed and 17” HD in-flight entertainment screen and a spacious in-flight bar. 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 Qatar Airways A350 XWB features the-state-of-the art Oryx entertainment system, with more than 1,000 entertainment options on individual screens in all classes. The jet also offers advanced air-conditioning technology and LED mood lighting to enhance the comfort of passengers while reducing fatigue after a long flight. In addition, the jet will also offer in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity for all passengers, allowing them to surf the web on the go.
