Aviation

Qatar Airways Reaches Significant Milestone with Delivery of 250th Aircraft.

Arrival of Airbus A350-900 from Toulouse takes airline to historic high and will support growth into new markets and new destinations

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways today celebrated the arrival of its 250^th aircraft, an Airbus A350-900 from Toulouse, France, the latest addition to the group’s growing fleet of passenger, Cargo and executive aircraft.

This impressive landmark comes just 22 years after the carrier began operations, and is testament to the incredible growth of an airline that has become world-leading in that time, winning a host of awards, including the Skytrax World Airline of the Year accolade on no less than four occasions.

The new A350-900 joins the airline’s state-of-the-art fleet, where the average age of aircraft is less than five years old. As of 20 March 2019, Qatar Airways’ fleet is made up of 203 passenger aircraft, 25 Cargo and 22 Qatar Executive jets.

Commenting on the achievement, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “I am extremely proud that we have reached this historic landmark of having a fleet that now numbers 250 aircraft. The delivery of our newest Airbus A350-900 is a mark of the outstanding growth we have seen over the last two decades, and to our commitment to flying only the newest and most technologically advanced aircraft in the world.

“Qatar Airways is moving forward with the rapid expansion of our global route network, an enhanced on board product offering in all cabin classes and, most importantly, taking delivery of the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft because we want our customers to have an unforgettable experience when they fly with us. This is an important moment in our growth, and I look forward to seeing our fleet grow even more in the coming years.”

Qatar Airways is renowned for its state-of-the-art fleet. Last year, the airline became the world’s launch customer of the Airbus A350-1000, symbolising Qatar Airways’ determination to lead the way in the industry by pioneering and championing the latest technology and innovation. In 2014, the airline became the global launch customer of the Airbus A350-900, becoming the first airline in the world to operate every family of Airbus’ modern airliner portfolio.

In January 2015, Qatar Airways deployed its newly-received, world-first, Airbus A350 XWB aircraft on the Frankfurt route and in 2016, it became the first airline to fly the A350 family of aircraft to three continents.

A multiple-award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Business Class Seat’, ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge’.

Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) to more than 160 destinations worldwide.

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The airline has launched an array of exciting new destinations recently, including Gothenburg, Sweden; Mombasa, Kenya and Da Nang, Vietnam. Qatar Airways will add a number of new destinations to its extensive route network later this year, including Lisbon, Portugal; Malta; Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Langkawi, Malaysia; Davao, Philippines; and Mogadishu, Somalia.

Related Topics:Airbus A350 Qatar Qatar airways

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.