Qatar Airways' new Airbus A350-1000 will fly to London from Feb 24
By David Flynn, February 21 2018
Qatar Airways will take delivery of the first Airbus A350-1000 on February 20, with the advanced jet due to begin daily flights between Doha and London from February 24 as the QR15/QR16 service.
Speaking at a media event in Canberra to mark the launch of the airline's daily flights between Doha and the Australian capital, airline CEO His Excellency Akbar Al Baker confirmed that the A350-1000 "will be delivered on the 20th of this month."
The jet is the largest member of the Airbus A350 family, and Qatar Airways is its prestigious launch customer.
Al Baker has previously cited the "complex seat configuration" of the Qsuite business class suites (below) as delaying the hand-over from December 2017.
The Airbus A350-1000 is a 'stretch' of the A350 series, which carries more passengers than the A350-900 – in Qatar Airways' case, an extra 44 passengers – but over a slightly shorter range, making it a very flexible aircraft to suit the needs of qatar's growing network.
The twin-engine jet will contain 46 of the airline's flagship Qsuite business class suites, with the cabin divided into 22 forward-facing and 24 rear-facing business class suites...
... with the middle suites able to convert to double beds...
... or 'quad' suites.
There will also be 281 economy seats, for a total of 327 passengers.
Qatar Airways has signed up for 37 of the A350-1000s, but has yet to reveal which routes the jet will fly.
David Flynn travelled to Canberra as a guest of Qatar Airways
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 340
Gonna be FABULOUS!! I’m so looking forward to trying the QSuite
23 Oct 2014
Total posts 238
Looks fantastic, that’s what I call a business class revolution.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 144
Call me old school, i prefer the flight to be as private as possible rather than a “meeting place”. Most of the time i choose my flights so i can get quality sleep. If it is a long flight, my objectives are to get some minor business done and relax, if it is a moderately shorter flight, i eat in the lounge and try to sleep on board. Why is there a need for double bed or meeting place for 4 looking at each other, i don’t know. If these 4 were from the same company/office, how would this go with other pax, only time will tell.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
There is no "need" as such. The option is just there should a travelling party wish to avail of it. Luxury is having the choice.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
22 Dec 2017
Total posts 5
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
46 - typo in breakdown of forward-facing and rear-facing seats. Fixed now, thanks!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Aug 2014
Total posts 40
Over the years I have overheard some amazingly indiscreet conversations by work colleagues travelling together. Once it was an enlightening discussion by a couple of guys from one of our suppliers, discussing a current tender. They had no idea who was sitting in the seat directly in front.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Jul 2016
Total posts 14
Although the comment about “cone of silence” was probably tongue in cheek, aircraft manufacturers and airlines should work a little harder on deadening sound and cutting off light within the cabin. I have been annoyed more than once in J by prissies who absolutely insist they must sleep the instant they get on board (often foregoing the meal service) then 3 hours later putting their lights on, clack clacking their keyboards and stuffing their faces whilst merrily clinking their cutlery. Meanwhile the majority who follow the general routine and protocol of eat, sleep have to grit their teeth and put up with these dicks.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2017
Total posts 28
Perhaps 'mspcooper' misses one of the great advantages of the quad QSuite. Having travelled two weeks ago in a QSuite from Doha to London there was a Qatari family of six on board - 4 in a quad-suite and one each in a window suite on either side. Twice through the flight, they all got up swapped around. So this is one reason Qatar introduced the quad-suite - to better cater to its wealthy travelling families. The suite BTW, was wonderful, as was the service and food, which Qatar has modified to make the QSuites feel even more exclusive. There's nothing better in the air in J class.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
there is no room for comment with this story re Qatar - Qatar Airways: next-gen Qsuites for Airbus A380, Boeing 787, 777X
03 May 2013
Total posts 684
And Alan Joyce said the new A330/787 Business class was "mini first class" laughable!.
02 Aug 2017
Total posts 2
With this sort of aircraft how is Qantas expected to make a profit?
Qatar Airways
06 Jul 2016
Total posts 47
It's very odd that they can't name the intended destinations, with just 3 or 4 days to go!
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 May 2017
Total posts 17
Ok. Now say is Qatar Airways able to forecast a net profit in any of the next three years
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qatar Airways' new Airbus A350-1000 will fly to London from Feb 24