DOHA: Qatar Airways’ highly anticipated first A380-800 (super jumbo aircraft of Airbus) will this week be welcomed into the rapidly growing fleet of the airline, at a VIP inaugural ceremony to be held at Hamad International Airport (HIA) on Thursday.
The ceremony, under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, will see Qatar Airways reach another milestone in the airline’s short history, as it greets the world’s largest passenger aircraft, which will operate in a tri-class configuration of First, Business and Ecomony Class spread over twin decks.
Qatar’s national carrier is set to receive four Airbus A380s into the fleet by the end of this year.
Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO of Qatar Airways, said: “It is a significant moment in our airline’s history to welcome this aircraft into our rapidly expanding fleet. We remain committed to offering our passengers the best possible experience when it comes to travelling with our airline and our exacting standards are reflected in our award winning five-star service.
“Soon to operate on the Doha to London Heathrow route, this aircraft, with a customised interior cabin, will set a new level of comfort for our passengers, who will also benefit from a smooth and pleasant passenger experience at the world’s newest airport, Hamad International Airport.”
The new First Class A380 seat is a bespoke design element of the new A380, featuring a 90-inch seat pitch, transforming into a fully flat bed, together with an expansive choice of entertainment options displayed on individual 26-inch television screens.
The arrival this year of the airline´s first A380 marks a significant milestone for Qatar Airways, whose new home, HIA, has been specially designed to cater to the aircraft, with five contact gates developed for the superjumbo. Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 136 aircraft to 144 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.
On October 30, 2013, Qatar Airways joined the oneworld Alliance, becoming the first Gulf carrier to join a global airline alliance, enabling its customers to benefit from almost 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
The Peninsula
