Qatar Airways’ new 777 first class

Qatar Airways intends to ride the luxury-travel wave with the launch of all-new first class suites which it claims will be more like flying in a private jet.

These havens for the well-heeled will be exclusive to Qatar’s Boeing 777-9 jets – and with those planes also featuring the Qsuite Next Gen business class suites, Qatar’s 777X first class suites will need to be something extraordinary indeed.

But all good things take time… 

Qatar Airways’ 777-9 delivery

First of all, the Gulf carrier is one of many airlines still waiting for the 777-9, which Boeing initially promised would arrive in 2020.

Promoted by Boeing as “the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet”, the 777X family has been plagued by setbacks and is now expected to begin delivery to airlines from 2026.

Qatar Airways has signed up for 60 Boeing 777-9s – the world’s second-largest order, after launch customer Emirates (with a whopping 205 jets to come) and ahead of Singapore Airlines’ order for 31.

The 777-9 will replace Qatar Airways’ older Boeing 777s and also let it retire the handful of A380 superjumbos still flying.

Qatar Airways expects its first Boeing 777-9 to arrive sometime in 2026.

The future of Qatar Airways first class

For a time, Qatar Airways was convinced first class had no future – the suites demanded too much valuable floorspace at a time when the Qsuite was closing the gap between business and first.

“An aeroplane is very expensive real estate,” former Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told Executive Traveller in 2021, “and occupying a big portion with so few seats as first class, which had a load factor never averaging more than 55-60%,” was even harder to justify when Qsuites proved such a success.

The 'open suites' design of Qatar Airways' A380 first class.

“Why should you invest in a sub-class of an aeroplane that already gives you all the amenities that first class gives you?” he posed. “I don’t see the necessity.”

However, Al Baker later conceded there was a role for first class, but only on certain premium routes and a “just a handful” of 777-9s.

“We have huge demand here in Qatar to two or three European destinations” such as London and Paris, Al Baker told Executive Traveller in 2022, “so we may introduce a very small first class cabin for our local passengers who want a very exclusive first class product.”

Al Baker added these 777-9s would have “a very exclusive first class cabin of just four seats”, describing it as a deliberately “very niche product” aimed at well-heeled Qatari travellers.

Qatar Airways’ 777-9 first class

A prototype of that new first class suite was under development at QR HQ, and it appears the airline’s new CEO Badr Al-Meer has resurrected those plans.

“We have always been pushing away the concept of having a first class cabin on our aircraft,” he told media at the launch of the Qsuite Next Gen.

“But I have decided in the last few months that we have to introduce a first class cabin… especially when we have to exit the A380.”

“Based on demands for certain sectors we see that there is and that there will be, always, very high demand on first class.”

Some routes will aways have high demand for first class, says Qatar Airways' CEO.

Al-Meer said the Gulf carrier was leaning into its experience with its Qatar Executive private jet fleet ;to create a fresh five-star take on first class.

“We will utilise our knowledge and our expertise from having a private jet company… I feel that nobody can develop a first class cabin better than us (for that reason).”

“We want to combine the experience from flying commercial and from flying a private jet and develop something new.”

The design of those luxe suites was “70-80%” complete, Al-Meer added. “We are only finalising colours and small touches.”

Al Meer’s citing of demand for first class on “certain sectors” or flights mirrors Al Baker’s thinking, which could indicate that only a relatively small number of 777-9s will be crowned by these posh private suites.

While Al Baker suggested Qatar’s new 777-9 first class would be a single row of four suites, it’s possible that Al-Meer could shake things up with a three-suite layout similar to that adopted by Lufthansa and Qantas – and perhaps using Lufthansa’s approach of a larger middle suite which can be shared by two people or allows extra room for a solo flyer.

Lufthansa's 'suite for two' in the middle of its first class cabin.

Qatar Airways may also choose to differentiate first class from business class by outfitting each suite with a separate lounge chair and bed, with each element designed for maximum comfort rather than being a compromise of both.

Qantas' A350 first class suite.

This is an approach already adopted by Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines for their respective A380 first class suites, although it’s less common on single-deck twin-engine jets.

With Qatar Airways high up on the delivery list for the Boeing 777-9, it shouldn’t be too long before we learn more about the airline’s new 777 first class.