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Etihad Airways is exploring a novel way to get around persistent supply bottlenecks that have long bedevilled the aviation industry: buying components like seats in bulk and then storing them in a local warehouse until they’re needed.The Abu Dhabi flag carrier is undertaking a $1bn retrofit of its existing fleet because new aircraft are delayed. But matching the delivery of seats among the most complex cabin elements with the upgrade cycle of a plane could quickly prove impossible given suppliers have been notoriously unreliable in sticking to their schedules, Etihad Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said.“I cannot just park five, six, seven planes and destroy my network just to retrofit the planes, it’s going to be too expensive,” Neves said in an interview in New York. “We say, look, give me all the seats to retrofit about 50 planes in three months and I store the seats, and use them when it doesn’t hurt my network to pull those planes out of service.”Etihad’s considerations show how the aviation industry is trying to navigate one of the biggest impediments to growth: slow delivery of aircraft. Airbus SE and Boeing Co have for years struggled to get their production lines back on track, held back by component shortages and quality lapses on the factory floors. That’s forcing carriers to fly older kit for longer and requiring costly maintenance or cabin upgrades to keep the jets fresh.Customers are still waiting for new jets like the Boeing 777X that is half a decade behind schedule. Airbus has also had trouble meeting delivery goals, while Boeing has started improving output again after years of upheaval.Emirates is spending $5bn refurbishing existing jets like the jumbo Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777 to bridge delays with new models on order, particularly from the US manufacturer. Those overhauls have also been tied up by delayed parts availability, forcing airlines to ground a number of aircraft, cancel flights or charter short-term capacity.Touching up the cabins with new seats has become an important marketing tool for carriers, particularly as more travellers migrate to more expensive seats like premium economy or business class. While economy class bookings are slower in some markets, Etihad is seeing continued demand for premium travel in key geographies such as the US, Europe and Middle East. That makes it harder for the airline to stand down planes, Neves said.Neves said it’s not just supply bottlenecks holding back output. Certification requirements by authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration and its counterpart, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, are also causing delays that are increasingly affecting growth plans.“Certification has not improved, it’s a frustration,” Neves said. “Everything’s taking too long, we don’t have time for that, the customer cannot wait.”The airline reported record profit of 1.1bn dirhams ($306mn) for the first half of the year, driven by both passenger and cargo demand. While state-owned Etihad is ready for an initial public offering, the decision of whether and when to go public is in the hands of the shareholder, Neves said.As part of its plan to cash in on the continued demand for premium flying, the airline is bringing back two more Airbus A380 double decker jets, Neves said. The Etihad aircraft features the so-called Residence, a three-room layout featuring a double bed, living area and shower cubicle.Etihad had previously planned to permanently retire the four-engined behemoth for smaller, more nimble planes but now already has seven back in service. The airline has shifted the aircraft to Toronto from New York because of capacity constraints at that location, though Neves said he’d like to return the A380 to US destinations eventually.The national carrier expects to almost double its fleet to 200 aircraft in the next four or five years, Neves said. Still, the airline doesn’t plan on placing mega fleet orders, and will instead pursue small aircraft purchases as and when it needs them, the CEO said.The airline doesn’t expect the exit of Wizz Air Holdings Plc from Abu Dhabi to impact traffic into its main hub. Neves said that other airlines, including its venture with Air Arabia PJSC, will add more than twice the traffic into the airport than Wizz is pulling out.

Ooredoo and Qatar Airways have announced a strategic partnership to enhance Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud, and Cybersecurity capabilities in Qatar.The signing of the “landmark” Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirms a partnership that has spanned 15 years of co-innovation.The latest collaboration aims to leverage the combined expertise of the two industry leaders to drive innovation and accelerate digital transformation at national and regional levels.This partnership will facilitate the creation of a national AI hub, delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced tools, and robust data security frameworks.By aligning with Qatar’s long-term vision for technological leadership and economic diversification, Ooredoo and Qatar Airways are laying the foundation for an intelligent, AI-driven future.A key aspect of this collaboration is the investment in local talent. Through targeted training and upskilling programmes, the partnership will nurture the next generation of AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity professionals, support sustainable development, and reinforce Qatar’s leadership in technological excellence.Further underscoring its commitment, Ooredoo’s investment in the NVIDIA GPU platform, a cutting-edge solution, was operationalised in July 2025. This platform will provide businesses, government entities, and developers with unprecedented high-performance processing capabilities, enabling them to innovate with greater speed and effectiveness.Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer, at Ooredoo, said, “At Ooredoo, we are committed to unleashing AI's transformative power to enhance human potential and redefine what's achievable. This strategic alliance with Qatar Airways merges our respective expertise to position Qatar as a global leader in AI advancement and digital innovation.“We take pride in spearheading this visionary initiative toward a comprehensively digitally empowered future where advanced technology drives growth.”Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed al-Meer, said, “Leveraging technology to drive innovation has been a cornerstone of Qatar Airways digital strategy. We have already implemented a wide-range of AI applications across our operations, with additional opportunities in the pipeline to elevate the customer experience, empower our workforce and improve operational efficiencies.”“Through this partnership, we are proud to advance Qatar Airways role as a national AI champion by sharing our practical experience of such implementation at scale. This collaboration supports the wider national ambition to accelerate AI adoption across various sectors and together we are setting new benchmarks for excellence across multiple industries.”By integrating Ooredoo’s AI infrastructure with Qatar Airways’ operational and technology expertise, this partnership will enable the delivery of more innovative and connected experiences across telecommunications, aviation, and beyond.It reflects a shared commitment to building a knowledge-based, technology-driven economy and reaffirms Qatar’s position as a regional leader in digital innovation.

Lusail International Circuit (LIC) has revealed the official key visual for the Formula 1® Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025, capturing the energy, speed, and spirit of the event set for November 28–30.The artwork showcases the Qatar Formula 1 car in its bold and unique national colors, a bold reflection of Qatar’s presence on the global motorsport stage. Speeding through LIC’s iconic building, the car blazes a trail of light and color, symbolizing the sheer speed and adrenaline of Formula 1®.Local cultural elements are also woven into the artwork, with Saadu-inspired curb designs stretched along the track and a dramatic Doha skyline backdrop, blending tradition with modernity.Front and center is the tagline “Where Hearts Are Racing”—a campaign platform carried forward from 2024. More than a slogan, it reflects how motorsport has become deeply rooted in Qatari society and how Lusail International Circuit seeks to connect the emotions of the drivers on track with the fans in the grandstands.Whether it’s the thrill of watching Formula 1 live for the first time, witnessing the Sprint Race, cheering on the next generation through Formula 2, or simply soaking up the electric atmosphere of race weekend, “Where Hearts Are Racing” is a promise that every moment at LIC creates lasting memories.It underscores the circuit’s role as a world-class hub for motorsport and as a destination where passion, culture, and performance come together on and off the track.With British singer Seal — renowned for his soulful music — confirmed as Friday night’s headlining artist and more exciting news still to come, anticipation is building towards one of the most thrilling weekends of the year.Tickets have seen record demand, with the Main Grandstand and 3-day General Admissions already sold out. However, fans can still secure their spot with tickets available for the North Grandstand, T2, T3, and T16 Grandstands, as well as single-day Lusail Hill General Admission. Prices begin at QR200 for single-day General Admission, while three-day Grandstand access starts from QR1,000.Premium experiences also remain available, including hospitality and VIP packages designed to bring fans closer to the thrill of Formula 1 as anticipation grows for the return of Formula 1 to Qatar.