Qatar Airways | Official Thread

i guess the middle east airlines invest the most in new aircrafts

7.5bn! :eek2:

emirates airlines invests about 30bn in new aircrafts

the number of 60 shows what qatar plans for the future

qatar will do good with this boast
Flew them heaps of time just around the middle east
in in the older planes the service was great
this will make it even better

great news for Qatar Airlines the 7E7 is nice but i'm not a fan of it
but anyway Emirates Airlines are still thinking about the 7E7

Amazing! Middle East airlines have some of the world's best fleets!

Qatar Airways Thread

Qatar Airways aims to fly high

Dubai :

Qatar Airways will operate a fleet of 110 to 120 aircraft by 2012-13 and aims to serve 70 destinations by the end of this year, a company executive said.

The Qatari carrier, which was launched in 1994, has reported a 25 per cent year-on-year growth in passengers, according to Qatar Airways management.

"Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines and our growth rate has been unprecedented in the last six years. The business is there, the market is there and the demand is there," said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways's chief executive at a press conference during the Arabian Travel Market 2005.

Although the last two years have been profitable for the Qatar Airways Group, the airline is still in the red, said Al Baker.

He said its deficit was shrinking, but refused to reveal the rate at which it is declining.

"We are projecting a profitable year for the airline by 2010, or even before that, as long as oil prices do not soar," Al Baker said.

The airline took delivery of its 40th aircraft last week, an Airbus A330-300.

Its fleet will increase further as it begins to take delivery of 34 new Airbus planes according to the terms of a $1.5 billion (Dh5.5 billion) deal signed in 2003.

Qatar Airways is in talks with Boeing and Airbus regarding additional aircraft purchases.

In 1997, when Qatar Airways was relaunched, it had just four aircraft.

Emirates has 76 aircraft and the Dubai-based airline projects a 151-strong fleet by 2012. Saudi Arabian Airlines has 126 aircraft and expects delivery of 15 more.

Qatar Airways said yesterday it would offer flights to Mashad in Iran and Alexandria in Egypt from June. Flights to Kenya's capital, Nairobi, are scheduled to start in October.

The airline added two new destinations in May Tunis and Algiers and increased the destinations it serves to 62.

It will add a previously-announced destination, Athens, in June. The carrier is expecting to increase its roster of destinations to 70 by the end of this year.

Al Baker said Qatar Airways exceeded its fuel budget by $68 million (Dh249.5 million) last year.

In 2004-05, he said, the figure is expected increase by another $100 million (Dh367 million).

He said the rise was due to higher fuel prices and its increasing capacity.

Qatar Airways was one of the first carriers to open scheduled flights on a regular basis to Iraq after the US-led war in the country, he said.

According to Al Baker, the carrier's services were stopped after restrictions were imposed by the coalition authorities.

"We will go back to Iraq when it is more stable and we can operate safely," he said.

Qatar Airways also plans to expand to the United States, the airline's chief executive said.

Qatar Airways says in Boeing, Airbus talks

5 May 2005

DUBAI — Rapidly-growing Qatar Airways is in “advanced discussions” with Airbus and Boeing Company to purchase new aircraft but wants certain demands to be met before concluding a deal, an airline official said yesterday.

“It is a strategic decision and the company will not rush to take any decision before receiving all the answers. We are negotiating on Boeing 7E7 and Airbus A350,” Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker told a news conference in Dubai.

“We’re in an advanced stage of discussions with both manufacturers and hope to conclude a deal with both or one of the two before the Paris (air) show."

“We made requests and asked for guarantees and we are waiting that they are adequately addressed by both,” said Baker who was speaking on the sidelines of the three-day Arabian Travel Market fair held in Dubai. He did not elaborate.

Baker said the airline’s 40 all-Airbus fleet would double in the next few years, following its $5.1 billion order of 18 Airbus planes and 16 options during the Paris Air Show two years ago. Qatar Airways aims to have 110 to 120 aircraft in 2012-2013.

The airline is one of the launch customers of the double-decker A380 with four aircraft on order to be delivered as of 2009.

He said high fuel prices have failed to dent expansion plans of gas-rich Qatar for the flag carrier.

“Jet fuel is affecting everybody, not only Qatar Airways or others. We pay a fuel rate which is equal to everybody else ... We are not subsidised and banks will vouch for that because they see our accounts.”

He said fuel accounted for 30 per cent of the airline’s total costs compared to 23 per cent last year.

“We have suffered $68 million above our budget in 2004-2005. This year we are expecting close to $100 million above budget ... This had a huge impact,” he added.

Baker dismissed speculation that a recent suicide bomb attack in Doha against a theatre popular with Westerners would damage the Gulf Arab state’s tourism and its airline.

“This is an isolated incident that could happen anywhere in the world ... My country is very safe. Qatar Airways has grown and people are still coming and hotels are full. The appetite for travel does not get dictated by an isolated incident.” Baker said new routes opened this week to North Africa increased Qatar Airways’ destinations to 62.

I saw a program with Akbar Al Baker in it and he was explainin all the ambitious plans about the expansion plus the airport. I'd have to say, that guy is very intellectual and his story is a nice one (grew up in India) and speaks 5 languages, and now he's a CEO. I'm the same but didn't grow up in India, so maybe I'll be a CEO .

زيادة أسعار النفط تكلف القطرية 100 مليون دولار

قال الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة الخطوط الجوية القطرية أكبر الباكر إن ارتفاع أسعار النفط العالمية أثر سلباً على العديد من شركات الطيران, وتوقع في مقابلة مع قناة الجزيرة أن تصل زيادة الإنفاق في ميزانية الخطوط القطرية جراء صعود أسعار الوقود إلى مائة مليون دولار هذا العام.

كما أعرب الباكر عن اعتقاده أن شركات الطيران المنخفضة التكلفة ستكون المتضرر الأكبر جراء ارتفاع تكلفة الوقود لا سيما في أوروبا, وذلك بسبب هامش الأرباح الضئيل لتلك الشركات.

وكان الباكر قد ذكر في دبي يوم أمس الأربعاء أن الشركة تجري مباحثات مع شركتي إيرباص وبوينغ لشراء طائرات جديدة لكنها تريد تلبية مطالب معينة قبل إبرام الصفقات. وأضاف أنه يأمل في إبرام صفقة مع الشركتين أو مع إحداهما قبل معرض باريس الجوي.

وقال الباكر إن أسطول الشركة المؤلف كله من 40 طائرة سوف يتضاعف في السنوات القليلة القادمة في أعقاب طلبها شراء 18 طائرة إيرباص بقيمة 5.1 مليارات دولار وخيارات لشراء 16 طائرة أخرى أثناء معرض باريس الجوي منذ عامين.

وتهدف شركة الخطوط الجوية القطرية إلى أن يصبح لديها ما بين 110 طائرات و120 طائرة بحلول سنة 2012 -2013.

Qatar Airways to order both Airbus and Boeing in US$15.2 billion deal


Qatar Airways has decided, after a very detailed evaluation of its aircraft requirements as well as current and future products, to place significant orders worth US$15.2 billion with both Airbus and Boeing.


Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker

Negotiations are under way with both Airbus and Boeing but subject to the resolution of certain important outstanding issues with each manufacturer, Qatar Airways will shortly commit to the purchase of a large fleet of Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker made the announcement during a press conference on the first day of the Paris Air Show in the French capital. He said the Airbus order would be worth US$10.6bn and the Boeing order US$4.6bn.

In the case of the Airbus A350 the purchase will be comprised of up to sixty (60) units of the A350-800 and the A350-900 variants. The Airbus A350 was chosen over the Boeing 787 after very extensive analysis. The decision was very hard to make as both aircraft types showed very strong advantages in different areas. In the end, the existence of the Airbus A330 in Qatar Airways' current fleet and slightly more advantageous commercial terms led us to believe that the A350 would be the optimum choice.

Qatar Airways' Airbus A350 aircraft will be delivered between mid-2010 and 2015 - first to supplement and then replace the A330 - as the airline's small- to medium-size widebody aircraft. The enhanced range and flexibility of this new generation aircraft will allow Qatar Airways to use the A350 on missions ranging from short-haul regional services to long-haul operations to the Far East, Europe and North America from its operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.

Qatar Airways intends to purchase at least twenty (20) Boeing B777 aircraft of three variants, the B777-300ER, B777-200LR and B777-200F. It is Qatar Airways' intention to make the B777 the airline's standard large widebody, with the B777-300ER likely to account for around half of the orders.

Qatar Airways' initial B777 order would be delivered to the airline between 2007 and 2010. The B777-300ER will allow capacity growth on the airline's rapidly-growing and airport slot-constrained routes, whereas the B777-200LR will be allocated to new routes to North America and Australasia.

The exceptional range capability and economics of the B777-200F freighter will supplement Qatar Airways' existing medium-haul Airbus A300-600R freighter fleet and facilitate the strong cargo growth that we anticipate with the opening of the new Doha International Airport in 2009.

Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, currently operating an all-Airbus fleet of 40 aircraft, flying to 64 destinations worldwide from Doha.

The award-winning carrier is among an elite group of international airlines ranked with a Five Star status by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.

Qatar Airways awards deal to Lufthansa Technik

Dubai :
Qatar Airways has signed two MoUs with Lufthansa Technik valued more than $100 million(Dh367 million)

The German company, one of the world's leading independent providers of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for aircraft, components and engines, will take over the engine maintenance and overhaul of the airline's Airbus A320 fleet for the next ten years.

Lufthansa Technik's Engine Services in Hamburg will be servicing the different IAE V2500 engine variants of Qatar Airways' 17 A320s.

Lufthansa Technik will install Rockwell Collins' Tailwind 560 for onboard live satellite television for 15 Airbus A330s with antennas and corresponding systems and integrate the TV function into the existing in-flight entertainment system.

"As a key player in the Middle East and international aviation market, Qatar Airways committed itself always to the highest standards of safety, reliability and comfort. Today, while entrusting our engines to Lufthansa Technik, we are not only securing a reliable operation of our Airbus fleet but also setting the new standard of comfort for in-flight entertainment among international carriers", said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways.

more wasted money.

I see this as a competition between QA and Emirates, whos bigger, I mean all those expansions are a waste as Qatar pointed out, what is the load factor, just show biz stuff basically. Anyways:


Qatar Airways inaugural flight touches down in Athens
Qatar Airways has added Athens to its rapidly-growing international network with the launch of non-stop scheduled flights to the Greek capital.

The carrier's inaugural flight QR472 from Doha touched down at Athens International Airport this afternoon with a high-level delegation onboard, including airline representatives and media from the Middle East.

Senior airport officials welcomed the delegation, headed by Qatar Airways' General Manager Commercial Mohamed Saleh Fakhri before a welcome ceremony to mark the arrival of the new service.

Athens is Qatar Airways' third route launch this month following the start of new flights to Mashad in Iran and the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, served from the airline's operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.

The historic city of Athens expands Qatar Airways' global network to 65 global destinations covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia.

The airline is operating six flights a week on the Athens route, using an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in Business and 132 in Economy.

To celebrate the route launch, Qatar Airways is offering members of its Privilege Club frequent flyer programme with double Qmiles for the first full month of the new Athens flights.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said he was delighted to see the airline spreading its wings to new and exciting destinations, to give the travelling public greater choice.

'Athens has tremendous history and culture and is the gateway to some beautiful islands in the Mediterranean which I am sure will be highly popular with holidaymakers as the summer season approaches,' he said.

'We expect to see excellent traffic from the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Asia and Africa feeding into our flights to Athens via Doha. And similarly, we look forward to welcoming passengers out of Greece to connect onto our extensive network of flights from Doha.'

Award-winning Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 40 all-Airbus aircraft, which will almost double within a few years, thanks largely to a $5.1bn order for 34 additional Airbus aircraft signed in 2003.

The airline is one of the launch customers of the twin-deck A380 'super jumbos' with four aircraft on order and scheduled for delivery from 2009 to coincide with the opening of the New Doha International Airport.

Earlier this month, Qatar Airways retained its status as one of only a select few Five Star-ranked airlines in the world by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.

Skytrax also named Qatar Airways' cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the third year running and fifth best in the world following a survey of more than 12 million passengers worldwide, while the airline also maintained its position as among the world's top 10 carriers.

Oh boy, what a ridiculous order :no: . QA (and Emirates i might add) have to stop making decisions that are based more on pride than business sense. 80 airplanes in one go! About Singapore airlines' entire fleet. Insane.

I agree. Really insane.. and stupied.. more stupid than insane..

Qatar Airways to offer satellite TV on long-haul flights

Dubai: Qatar Airways, a growing Gulf airline, will become the first international carrier to provide live satellite television on its long-haul fleet.
The airline plans to introduce the new feature in its Airbus A330s by the end of the year as part of a $100 million (Dh367.40 million) agreement with Germany's Lufthansa Technik, a provider of technical services to commercial aircraft.

The deal also includes engine maintenance and overhaul of the airline's Airbus A320 short-haul aircraft for the next ten years.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker announced the agreements after signing memoranda of understanding with Lufthansa Technik at the Paris Air Show.

Lufthansa Technik will install Rockwell Collins's Tailwind 560 system for live satellite television in 15 A330s.

Passengers will be able to tune in live TV from select networks, further enhancing their inflight entertainment options.

Engineers and technicians will equip the fleet with antennas and corresponding systems and integrate the TV function into Qatar Airways's award-winning interactive inflight entertainment system.

In addition, Lufthansa Technik's Engine Services in Hamburg will service the IAE V2500 engines of Airbus A320 aircraft under a total engine support contract.

Al Baker said live satellite television was yet another product initiative that would differentiate Qatar Airways from its competitors even further.

"As a key player in the Middle East and international aviation market, Qatar Airways always commits itself to the highest standards of inflight entertainment and onboard amenities," he said.

"We continue to look at ways to improve our service levels to passengers and, by offering a variety of entertainment options, we also set new standards of comfort to ensure we are the airline of choice."

At 15 inches, Qatar Airways first class and business class personal TV screens are the largest in the Middle East, as are the economy cabin's 9-inch screens.

15 inch personal TV screens????

yup !! really large screens... but i dont like them a lot.. guys around get to see what movie m watching..

What sorta movie are do u wanna watch that u dont want guys around u to know

Qatar Airways to launch service to New Delhi

Dubai :
Following the recent successful round of civil aviation negotiations between the governments of Qatar and India, Qatar Airways announced that it will expand services to India this month by launching flights to New Delhi and increasing capacity on its presesnt services to almost double the number of weekly seats between Qatar and India.

Qatar Airways currently operates 19 scheduled flights a week between Doha, the airline's operational hub in Qatar, and four Indian destinations Cochin, Trivandrum, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

This summer, the airline will increase capacity to India with 11 additional flights a week, taking the number of services to 30 to five Indian cities.

From July 14 the airline will add the capital, New Delhi, to its Indian route map with seven services a week.

From July 15, the Mumbai route will increase from six services a week to daily with the introduction of a new Friday night flight from Doha.

Cochin, currently served three-times-a-week, will be boosted with two additional weekly departures from Doha, beginning on July 18. On July 21, a fourth weekly frequency will be added to Hyderabad.

CEO Akbar Al Baker said: "Our New Delhi flights and additional capacity going into Mumbai, Hyderabad and Cochin will help meet the demand, particularly during the summer rush and also help grow our overall business and leisure traffic to India."