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Qatar Airways expands Boeing 777 fleet with additional aircraft orders

Qatar Airways today announced orders for two additional Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft as part of its continued growth plans. The order is valued at US$501 million.

The Doha-based airline also revealed a revised delivery schedule of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the first to arrive from the fourth quarter of 2011 to help meet early aircraft requirements.

Qatar Airways currently has 19 Boeing 777 aircraft in its fleet – 11 Extended Range (300-ERs), six Long Range (200-LRs) and two freighter versions. The Boeing 777 is fast becoming the cornerstone of the airline’s long-haul fleet.

With today’s announcement, Qatar Airways has firm orders for 10 Boeing 777s and a further three on option with the US aircraft manufacturer.

Speaking at the Farnborough Air Show in England today, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the airline was continuing with its ambitious growth plans, undeterred by the difficult global economic situation.

“Air travel demand is continuing to rise in the Middle East and it is becoming clear that international demand is returning as the global economy shows signs of recovery,” said Al Baker.

“We continue to invest in new aircraft and new routes and will be well positioned for the upturn in air travel with a fleet fully optimised for economic and environmentally friendly operations.”

Added Al Baker: “The Boeing 777 has become the cornerstone of our fleet. It is a tool for profitability, but also a platform for delivering the highest customer satisfaction. Its service reliability and cabin architecture, coupled with our innovative interiors and world-class in-flight service have made the 777 the airplane of choice for our passengers.

“The additional two Boeing 777-200 LRs will help us open up new ultra long-haul markets as we expand and identify new opportunities further.”

Qatar Airways’ three pairs of Boeing 777-200 LRs currently operate non-stop between Doha and Houston, Melbourne and Sao Paulo, the latter route continuing onto Buenos Aires. It is the longest range commercial aircraft in the world, capable of connecting virtually any key city in the world non-stop from the airline’s hub in Doha.

Qatar Airways began taking delivery of its Boeing 777 passenger aircraft in November 2007. Its first Boeing 777 freighter was delivered two months ago, followed soon after by a second.

A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER is on static display at the Farnborough Air Show this week, representing a symbol of the ultra-modern fleet of Boeing airplanes operated by the airline.

“In its first few months of operation, the 777 Freighter is performing exceptionally well and as expected, meeting operating economic targets and is well on its way to help us grow the freight transport part of our business,” said Al Baker.

Qatar Airways today also announced that it had reached a formal agreement to advance its Boeing 787 deliveries to support its network growth and fleet replacement requirements by the end of next year.

Qatar Airways’ first 787 is now scheduled to enter service during the fourth quarter of 2011 and the airline expects to have five aircraft in service by the end of the first quarter of 2012. These 787 aircraft will introduce new and significant cabin product enhancements to the Qatar Airways fleet.

The airline is also negotiating further delivery accelerations of its thirty firm 787s with Boeing in order to replace its early Airbus A330s, which will be less than nine years old when the 787 enters service with the carrier.

The Boeing 787s will form the core of Qatar Airways’ regional- and medium-haul fleet. Its optimum size and outstanding fuel efficiency and economics will underpin the airline’s competitiveness as it prepares to move to a new hub – the New Doha International Airport – which is under construction and expected to be completed by next year.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 84 aircraft to 92 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America from its Doha hub.

With the addition of new routes, Qatar Airways will operate flights to more than 100 destinations by next year

Source
 
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Qatar Airways open the new route Doha-Kuala-Lumpur-Phuket

On October 12th, Mr. Marwan Koleilat, the Senior Commercial Vice President for East Asia Southwest Pacific in Qatar Airways and his staff hosted a grand opening party at the VIP room of Phuket Airport for the first flight on the Doha-Kuala Lumpur-Phuket by Qatar Airways.

This was the first time that a flight by Qatar Airways landed at Phuket International Airport. Qatar Airways was the 31st airline to open its flights to Phuket. The first Doha-Kuala Lumpur-Phuket flight used an Airbus A330-300 carrying 45 passengers, 2 captains, and 13 aircrew from Doha, KL to Phuket. The flight took 8 hours. The Airbus has 30 seats in business class and 275 economy class seats.

In October, there would be a flight every day except Monday. From November 1st 2010 to January 2011, there would be 7 flights a week. The Bangkok-Doha flight would be 3 times a day during this time as well. Therefore, there would be 28 flights from Thailand on Qatar a week. Apart from the flight to Phuket, the airline also soon launches its new routes to Hanoi, Nice, Bucharest, Budapest, and Brussels

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Qatar Airways set to receive first 787 Dreamliner by end of 2011

27 September 2011, 8:48 PM DUBAI — Qatar Airways may become the first Gulf carrier to receive its first 787 Dreamliner by the end of 2011, Khaleej Times learned on Monday.

Etihad Airways, with 31 planes, is the largest Gulf customer of the revolutionary aircraft developed by Boeing, which has orders worth about $25 billion for 125 aircraft from the Middle East. Qatar Airways ordered 30 787 Dreamliners in April 2007.

Boeing, which competes for airplane orders with EADS unit Airbus, delivered the first lightweight carbon-composite aircraft to Japan’s All Nippon Airways on Sunday. The fuel-efficient plane, which lists for about $200 million, is three years behind its original delivery schedule.

“Qatar Airways is slated to take its first 787 delivery by the end of 2011 and plans to use its 30 787s to replace ageing and less fuel-efficient Airbus A330s. The airline also holds options on a further 30 787s and it is highly likely these will be exercised. Along with Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways will be one of the biggest 787 operators when deliveries are completed,” Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at FBE Aerospace London, told Khaleej Times. He said Boeing has total orders of some 821 jets and the Arabian airlines here represent 15 per cent of the entire backlog. “The lower cost of operation of this family of airplanes will allow Arabian airlines to open up more point-to-point destinations that were previously restricted to bigger jets like the 777, 747 and A380,” he said.

ALAFCO, a Kuwait-based lease and finance company, Iraqi airline, Gulf Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Royal Air of Morocco are among major customers of 787 Dreamliners in the region. Emirates, the world’s number one airline, has not yet placed an order for this revolutionary aircraft, but another UAE-based customer booked five planes in May 2005.

“With fewer older long range airplanes to replace, much of the 787 backlog for the region represents growth, expansion and opportunities for forge closer alliances and partnerships with other airlines,” Ahmad said adding that the airlines will have to see alternatives planes to continue their growth in route networks.

“Notwithstanding the penalty payments and compensation that Boeing has already paid out to customers, airlines in the Middle East will secure much success from the 787,” he said.

He said Boeing will no doubt be looking to the Middle East as a source of future and sustained 787 orders as it may ramp up deliveries after spending billions on development and compensations. Boeing aims to produce 10 Dreamliners per month by the end of 2013 to clear the backlog.

“As Emirates has not yet announced any plan to buy the 787, there is ample opportunity for Boeing to develop stretched models like the 787-10X that Emirates actually wants — so while the 787 may have started off choppy and costly for the US jet maker, the prospects for the 787 and Boeing to score more orders is very likely to build on the way that the 777 has come to dominate this region,” Ahmad said.

Source
 
QATAR AIR COULD DELAY A380 DELIVERY


The chief executive of Qatar Airways said he was confident Airbus would fix the cracks discovered on the wings of some of its A380 superjumbos but did not rule out delaying delivery if the problem persists.

"I'm sure that it (the cracks) is something that has emerged and that Airbus is capable of putting it right soon," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said at the opening of the airline's new premium lounge at London's Heathrow Airport on Thursday.

"If they don't put it right we will delay taking an aircraft. But I am confident Airbus will fix the problem."

Qatar Airways doubled its A380 order book to 10 at last year's Dubai air show.

It is due to receive its first A380 next year.

European safety authorities ordered urgent inspections on just under a third of the superjumbo fleet last week after two types of cracks were discovered within weeks of each of other on the same type of part, an L-shaped bracket inside the wing.

Al Baker said teething problems with new aircraft was the reason Qatar Airways had not decided to take the earlier models of the A380.

"Whenever a new model of car comes out I like to get the first one but after a year I need to replace it because they make so many modifications," he said. "That's why we are taking the 50th A380 onwards."

Al Baker added that he expected Qatar to receive its first Boeing 787 in June and that its first flight would be to the UK after being displayed at the Farnborough air show.

Source
 
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GULF AIRLINE BOSS CALLS ON UK GOVERNMENT TO ACT NOW OVER UK AIRPORT CAPACITY

Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, has called on the UK government to urgently address capacity constraints at London Heathrow Airport to avoid a “catastrophic situation” for the country’s economy.

Giving a keynote address to the UK Aviation Club Lunch in London today (October 17), Al Baker was vocal in support for a third runway at Heathrow.

He said a new four-runway hub airport in the Thames Estuary – dubbed Boris Island after London Mayor Boris Johnson – could take up to 20 years to build and added that the UK could not afford to wait that long.

Full Story: http://airport-world.com/news-articles/ ... t-capacity
 
I've not seen an official press release but it seems Qatar Airways will be flying from ATH to JFK starting next summer using a 787 :dunno:

I wonder how far up/down the new routes list BHX is. Or if it is actually on it!

Put through Google translator.

In summer 2013 will begin direct flights Athens - New York with Qatar Airways which will run on an ongoing basis throughout the year. As announced Wednesday by the Athens CEO of the airline, Mr. Akbar Al Baker , the routes will be daily, you will begin between June and August and will run with either Boeing 787 or Airbus A380. Indeed, as noted, through codeshare, but connections and routes from other destinations in Eastern Europe, the flight Athens - New York will be supplied with more passengers. "Every crisis presents opportunities for those with courage and clear purpose. And do we. It is not necessary to withdraw from a destination, if the market is not going well. You can "play" with the capacity of flights, adapting them to the circumstances of each country, " he said. According to Mr. Al Baker, says the company committed to the Greek market, and supplemented, Qatar Airways will be in our country so the good and bad days. Mr. Al Baker said that Qatar plans to invest in our country, but declined to say more. addition, made ​​reference to the large development project in the company's fleet and flight operations, particularly in the development of new airport of Doha, an investment of over 16 billion euros. Commenting, Director General of the International Airport of Athens, Mr. John Paraschis , noted that "the present day proves what we call here a long time: that the world is changing and not makes sense to pour crocodile tears. " Mr. Paraschis noted that the development of the airlines of the Middle East and greater involvement in Greece is proof that there is a significant future market of Athens. Indeed, he noted that the commitment of Qatar to the Greek capital comes in a period during which many around the marketplace of Athens have been denied.

http://www.tovima.gr/finance/article/?aid=486059

Qatar Airways: Direct flights from Athens to New York

Published: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Routes linking Athens directly with New York going to start from next summer air period Qatar Airways, the airline of Qatar. The company's decision to directly connect Athens with the American megalopolis announced today at a news conference Typouo CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker.

http://www.tanea.gr/latestnews/article/ ... icle=qatar
 
Further to the above

QATAR Airways Boeing 787 S13 Operations

by JL


Update at 1210GMT 30NOV12

As per latest schedule adjustment on 30NOV12, QATAR Airways unveils planned Boeing 787 operations for the first-half of Summer 2013 season, includes the following:

Boeing 787 to operate following routes on/after 31MAR13:
Doha – London Heathrow (Service begins from 13DEC12)
QR075 DOH0640 – 1200LHR 788 D
QR076 LHR1600 – 0045+1DOH 788 D

Doha – Zurich (Reservation for Boeing 787 service is now open)
QR061 DOH0105 – 0630ZRH 788 135
QR063 DOH0845 – 1410ZRH 788 x135

QR062 ZRH1130 – 1825DOH 788 135
QR064 ZRH1540 – 2240DOH 788 x135

Boeing 787 to enter service on following routes, however this has not been reflected in the GDS at time this post goes to press:
Doha – Frankfurt eff 31MAR13 2 Daily service
Doha – Munich eff 31MAR13 11 weekly service

Planned Boeing 787 service remains subject to change. There is a possibility that planned launch date may be moved forward.

http://airlineroute.net/2012/11/30/qr-787-s13/
 
I'm yet to see the type. I'm very much looking forward to when they're a regular sight at most UK airports.
 
Qatar announces dates for Dreamliner's return to UK

Qatar Airways will resume Boeing 787 flights from London on May 15, four months after all 787s were grounded worldwide due to safety concerns.

The Doha-based carrier, which was the first to launch 787 flights from the UK, has already resumed 787 flights on services from Doha to Dubai.

The airline has five 787s, also known as Dreamliners, but all were grounded earlier this year following a directive from both the Federal Aviation Administration in the US and Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority after faults had been spotted on 787s operated by other airlines.

Full story: http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature. ... g&region=2
 
Qatar Airways have announced the first 2 destinations there A380's will serve from early 2014 which are London Heathrow and Paris.

Qatar confirms London and Paris as A380 launch routes

A spokesperson for Qatar Airways has confirmed to Business Traveller that European destinations London Heathrow and Paris Charles De Gaulle will be the launch routes for its A380 superjumbo.

Qatar has previously hinted that it will operate the superjumbo “on popular routes, especially in slot-constrained airports.”

Qatar Airways has 13 A380’s on order, with the first scheduled to enter service early next year. No official launch dates or schedules have been released yet.

Al Baker confirmed to Business Traveller last year (see online news December 2012) that the upper deck of the A380 will be fitted with eight seats in first class - the only aircraft in the next three years that Qatar will fit with first class - and 52 business class seats, along with a lounge area and a small economy section.

The entire main deck will be economy class, meaning there will be a very desirable economy section in the nose section, where the aircraft is quietest, making a total of 517 seats on the aircraft.

A picture of the aircraft in partial livery was released earlier this month (see online news June 12).

Qatar-Airways-first-A380-470.jpg


Link to Article Website
 
The Qatar fleet (A320, A350-XWB, A380 and B787) touching down for the Paris Air Show.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzjZDGa0muY[/video]
 
What's interesting is that all the new destinations in Europe are on A320's. Would have thought Helsinki at the least would have been B788 or A330.
 
Apart from Nice it would seem. From the wording I take it that Qatar has served Nice in the past and will be served by wide-body aircraft five times weekly from summer 2017.
 
Not mentioned yet in the worldwide forums but Cardiff airport in Wales has secured new flights to Doha with Qatar Airways.

Something which nobody has mentioned but didn't the airline say it was looking at three new UK airports? If so will there be some more out of the box thinking with the potential other UK regional airports?
 
Not mentioned yet in the worldwide forums but Cardiff airport in Wales has secured new flights to Doha with Qatar Airways.

Something which nobody has mentioned but didn't the airline say it was looking at three new UK airports? If so will there be some more out of the box thinking with the potential other UK regional airports?
Towards the end of 2015 the Qatar UK/Ireland chief said his airline was looking to expand in the British Isles and was looking at Gatwick and Ireland, which he said could be Dublin or Belfast.

He also said then that Qatar was looking to serve south-west England and possibly another Scottish airport.

Dublin was announced some time ago and will commence this summer. South West England was taken to mean BRS by some but we now know that it will be covered from CWL.

Taking the Qatar chief's words literally, Gatwick should soon be announced plus the Scottish airport which most people took to mean Glasgow, given that the airline already serves Edinburgh.

However, I read that there is hope in Northern Ireland that Belfast international might be announced (as well as Dublin).

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/qatar-airways-said-eye-new-flights-gatwick-ireland-612899.html
 

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