Revealed: Qatar Airways Qsuite plans for the Airbus A350-1000

EXCLUSIVE | Qatar Airways will load the front of its new Airbus A350-1000 with 46 of its Qsuite business class suites when the airline takes delivery of the stretched jet by the end of this year, but trim the premium cabin to just two dozen suites in its 'high-density' Boeing 777-300ER.

The innovative Qsuite design includes 53 inch (1.35m) tall privacy doors for all suites, with selected pairs of middle suites able to be jouned as a double bed...

... or 'quad suites' in which four seats can be adapted into a shared space.

Each suite has a seat width of 21.5 inches (55cm) which extends to a 79 inch (2m) long bed.

A configuration plan sighted by Australian Business Traveller reveals the following layouts for Qatar Airways' Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-300 fleets.

The first Boeing 777-300ER with the new Qsuites will take wing on June 24 as the QR7/QR8 service flying between Doha and London Heathrow, with routes to Paris and New York said to be next on the list.

This 'classic' Boeing 777-300ER layout – and that of the longer range Boeing 777-200LR – will be 42 Qsuites in business class, arranged as follows:

• 20 forward-facing suites are at 2BDGJ, 4BDGJ, 6BDGJ, 8DG, 9BJ,10DG and 11BJ
• 22 rear-facing suites are at 1AEFK, 3AEFK, 5AEFK, 7EF, 8AK, 9EF, 10AK and 11EF
• the six paired middle seats which convert into double beds are 1EF, 3EF, 5EF, 7EF, 9EF and 11EF
• the first five sets of those (1EF+2DG, 3EF+4DG, 5EF+6DG, 7EF+8DG, 9EF+10DG) are bookable as 'quads'

Qatar Airways will begin retrofitting its existing A350-900 jets over the coming months with 36 Qsuites – the same number as its current business class configuration – and 247 economy seats.

The Airbus A350-900 aircraft will have 16 forward-facing and 20 rear-facing business class suites, with capacity for five double beds or four quad suites.

The larger Airbus A350-1000 will sport 46 Qsuites and 281 economy seats. The business class suites will be divided into 22 forward-facing and 26 rear-facing business class suites, with the middle suites able to convert to six double beds and six quad suites.

However, Qatar's 'high-density' Boeing 777-300ER aircraft – used on routes with less demand for premium travel – will pare the Qsuites back to 24 (with 12 forward-facing and 12 rear-facing, three double beds or three quads) with 388 economy seats.

David Flynn

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.