Aviation

10 Interesting facts about Qatar Airways : Jetline Marvel

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1. The world’s first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas.

On October 12, 2009, a Qatar Airways Airbus A340-600 conducted the world’s first commercial passenger flight using a mixture of kerosene and synthetic gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuel, produced from natural gas, on its flight from London’s Gatwick Airport to Doha.

A Qatar Airways aircraft completed the world’s first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas.

The historic journey from London Gatwick to Doha took over six hours and was operated with an Airbus A340-600 aircraft using Rolls-Royce Trent 556 engines.

2. In May 2017, Qatar Airways became FIFA Partner and 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups official sponsor.

After the end of Emirates contract with FIFA, Qatar Airways was announced that it has an Official Partner and the Official Airline of FIFA as part of a sponsorship package lasting until 2022. Upcoming events sponsored by Qatar Airways will include the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™ and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.

As an Official Partner of FIFA, Qatar Airways will have extensive marketing and branding rights at the next two FIFA World Cups, with an expected audience reach of more than two billion people per tournament. It will also have visibility at competitions such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world’s largest online gaming tournament.

3. Qatar Airways has an oryx, the national animal of the State of Qatar, as its logo.

Everybody has seen the purple Oryx on Qatar Airways fin. The national animal of Qatar was completely extinct from the wild in 1972 but was reintroduced to the wild starting in 1982. Initially two herds were used to reintroduce the Oryx back. One from a Zoo in Phoenix, Arizona and another one from a “private collection” in Saudi Arabia.

The programme kicked off in Oman and then was further extended to the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. After 25 years the Oryx has spread across the Arabian Peninsula and is only listed as “Vulnerable”, which has to be considered as a big success.

4. As of May 2014, the company is fully owned by the Qatari government.

Qatar Airways, one of the Gulf’s “big three” carriers, has become fully state-owned after the nation’s sovereign wealth fund bought out private shareholders.

The Qatar Investment Authority has bought the stakes owned by its former Prime Minister and other shareholders, CEO Akbar Al Baker said.

The purchase took place last July, but has only recently been revealed. It is understood that 50% of the airline was formerly in private hands. The cost of the deal was not announced.

5. Qatar has its own many subsidiary company in its umbrella.

Qatar Airways has many divisions including:

Qatar Aircraft Catering Company
Doha International Airport
Qatar Airways Holidays
United Media Int
Qatar Duty Free
Qatar Aviation Services
Qatar Distribution Company
Qatar Executive (private jet).

6. Qatar Airways has ordered 37 A350-1000s.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, welcomed the arrival of the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft to Qatar, as part of a special Demonstration Tour by Airbus. The visit was the first stop by the advanced aircraft to 12 destinations throughout the Middle East and Asia Pacific, designed to showcase the aircraft’s exclusive features to airlines and passengers. The arrival of the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft comes just a month before Qatar Airways will become the global launch customer for the world’s very first A350-1000.

7. Qatar has one of the World’s Largest Business Lounge at Doha.

After commencing full operations at its new hub, Doha in 2014, Al Mourjan Business Lounge for Qatar Airways’ Premium passengers opened in July 2014. Al Mourjan Business Lounge is about 10 times the size of an Olympic size swimming pool and the Lounge access is for Qatar Airways and one-world first and business class passengers only.

Two-and-a-half acres in all, Al Mourjan consists of many individual spaces, all comfortable and pleasant to look at.

Qatar Airways says that entry into the Al Mourjan lounge is reserved for its own, as well as Oneworld alliance, First Class and Business Class passengers, while Qatar Airways Economy Class passengers can purchase lounge access for 450 Qatari riyals, or about $120 US.

8. Qatar has the world’s longest flight from Doha to Auckland it cross 10-time zones

The daily service from Doha to Auckland which is due to take off on December 3rd, 2016, is going to be the longest flight on earth. The distance between Qatar’s capital and the biggest city in New Zealand is 14,536 kilometres. The flight attendants are going to announce an estimated flight time of 18 hours and 30 minutes.

Not many aircrafts are able to perform such ultra-long flights and the only suitable candidate is the 777-200LR. Take a guess what the “LR” stands for? Yes, you are right! It stands for “Longer Range”. The big difference are the additional fuel tanks, lighter landing gear and raked wingtips.

9. Qatar Airways has formally joined Oneworld, becoming the first of the major Gulf carriers to join one of the global alliances.

The Doha-based carrier joins after just a one-year accession period and becomes the alliance’s 13th member. It is the second Middle Eastern member of Oneworld, alongside Royal Jordanian Airlines.

“We are convinced the time is right clearly right…and Oneworld is clearly the best alliance,” said Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker during a joining ceremony at Doha’s new Hamad International airport on 29 October.

10. Qatar airways has one of the mixed largest fleet in the world and Qatar Executive is the largest G650ER operator in the world.

Qatar Airways is the national carrier of the State of Qatar. Currently undergoing rapid expansion, Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world.

Current Fleets Passenger and Cargo both handling 212 aircraft which includes

39 Airbus A320s
23 Airbus A350-900s (2 leased LATAM aircraft)
30 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
40 B777-300ERs

Corporate Jet Subsidiary Qatar Executive (12 aircraft)

And fleet on order includes-

100 Boeing 777Xs (including options)
8 Boeing 777-300ER
55 Airbus A350s
30 Boeing 787s
3 Boeing 777F
80 Airbus A320neo Family (including options)
1 Airbus A380
8 Airbus A330 Freighter options
60 Boeing 737 MAX
8 (20 firm and 40 options) and
30 Gulfstream G500 and G600 aircraft and the flagship G650ER.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.