Qatar Airways
IATA QR	ICAO QTR	Callsign QATAR
Founded		1993
Hubs		Doha International Airport
Frequent flyer program		Qatar Airways Privilege Club - Qmiles
Member lounge		Qatar Airways First and Business Lounges
Fleet size		64 (+165 orders including 30 options)
Destinations		83
Parent company		Government of Qatar
Company slogan		World's 5-star airline
Headquarters		Doha, Qatar
Key people		Akbar Al Baker (CEO)
Website: http://www.qatarairways.com

Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (Arabic: القطرية‎) is the flag carrier airline of Qatar, based in Doha. It operates a hub and spoke network, linking over 80 international destinations. It is among the only six airlines awarded 5-star rating by Skytrax along with Kingfisher Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Asiana Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines.^[1]

[edit] Destinations

Main article: Qatar Airways destinations

The flight to Houston has been delayed from the original December date then to February and again delayed till March 10, due to the delivery of the Boeing 777-200LR being postponed because of the strike at the Boeing company. Qatar Airways has recently announced to fly to the Ugandan city of Entebbe, with initial starting could be by 2009 or 2010, currently the only Gulf Carrier that flies to Uganda is Emirates.^[2]

[edit] Cargo

Airbus A300B2/B4 Cargo at Doha International Airport

Qatar Airways Cargo, the airlines freight branch, has ordered 7 777-200F. The first B777-200 freighter will be delivered to the airline in 2009 to coincide with the opening of the New Doha International Airport, which will have freight facilities able to handle 750,000 tonnes of cargo per annum during its first development phase. The B777-200F will be used primarily on Qatar Airways' Far East and European routes and will be supplemented by Airbus A300-600F freighters that operate on regional routes feeding the airline's hub. Meanwhile, a new destination, Zaragoza has been added to the cargo destination, the route is operated every Saturday using a A300-600F, and the returning flight goes through via Dubai, increasing the capacity to the city 3 times a week.^[3]

[edit] Fleet

Qatar Airways at Manchester Airport, UK

Qatar Airways formerly flew an all-Airbus fleet but now has a mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The fleet consists of the following aircraft as of March 2008:

In addition to the 2 Airbus A380, Qatar Airways ordered 3 more of the type at the 2007 Paris Airshow. It will start services with the A380 in 2011 to London (ref: Airliner World, March 2005). Qatar has pushed back the delivery of these aircraft until 2012 citing that it does not want to take the aircraft while it is moving into its new international terminal at Doha International Airport.^[6]

At the 2005 Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways ordered 60 Airbus A350s and 20 Boeing 777s, with options for 20 more Boeing 777s. The airline has recently signed a new contract for 80 A350 XWB as the original A350 program was scrapped. The Boeing 777s will be delivered between 2007 and 2010 (ref: Air International, July 2005). On December 17, 2006, Qatar Airways announced an order for 2 Boeing 777-200Fs. Five more Boeing 777-200Fs were announced at the 2007 Dubai Airshow. It will begin to receive the first of 27 Boeing 777s it has ordered in November 2007 with deliveries extending out to mid-2010.

On March 15th, 2007, Qatar Airways received the 800th member of the A330/A340 family aircraft, an A330-200, from Toulouse during a brief ceremony to commemorate the occasion. Qatar Airways was the launch customer of the A319-100LR aircraft and the A340-600HGW aircraft. It has since canceled its remaining 4 orders for the A340-600, citing high fuel use and increased cost base compared to the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which will take over the role of long-haul high-capacity workhorse until delivery of the A350-1000 in 2015.^[7]

On May 30, 2007, Qatar Airways placed an order with Airbus for 80 A350 XWB (20 -800, 40 -900 and 20 -1000) valued at over $16 billion.^[8]

Qatar has also placed a firm order for 30 Boeing 787-8, with 30 options. The average age of the Qatar Airways fleet is 4.6 years as of December 2007.

Over the next few years, Qatar Airways has planned on ordering more than 200 aircraft worth over 30 billion dollars according to CEO Akbar Al Baker and to help the country's booming economy and help Qatar become a major regional and leading aviation hub.^{[9][10][11][12]}

[edit] Cabin

Interior of Qatar Airways A330

All classes onboard Qatar Airways aircraft (except A300/319/320/321) have video screens at every seat. Live digital satellite television can be accessed on the A330 and A340 aircraft, offering a range of European and Arabic channels. All long-haul fleet aircraft are equipped with in-demand IFE systems featuring the latest movies, TV programmes, music, games, interactive maps, and a personal telephone.

Qatar Airways plans to introduce new flat-bed seats in business class in its upcoming Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The new beds will be introduced throughout the fleet with time. The inflight lounges on board the A340-600's are due to be dismantled in order to increase seat capacity.

[edit] First Class

First Class offers a 180 degree flatbed, a 15-inch seatback in-flight entertainment (IFE) system featuring movies, TV, and audio selections, a personal telephone, power-ports, a feather duvet, slippers, pajamas, and an overnight amenity kit.

[edit] Business Class

Business Class offers a 160 degree flatbed and independent lumbar support and a foot massage bar (on selected long-haul services only).Qatar Airways plans to introduce new flat-bed seats in business class in its upcoming Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The new beds will be introduced throughout the fleet with time. The inflight lounges on board the A340-600's are due to be dismantled in order to increase seat capacity.

[edit] Privilege Club

Qatar Airways' Privilege Club loyalty programme has reciprocal agreements with bmi's Diamond Club, Lufthansa's Miles and More, Middle East Airlines' Cedar Miles, All Nippon Airways' Mileage Club, United Airlines' Mileage Plus, and US Airways' Dividend Miles frequent flyer schemes. Privilege Club also has tie-ups with international hotel & car rental companies.

[edit] Qatar Airways Exclusive Premium Terminal

Airbus A330-200 landing.

Airbus A320-200 being taxied at Berlin-Tegel Airport

The Premium Terminal, Qatar Airways' dedicated terminal for First and Business Class passengers, opened at Doha International Airport in Winter 2006. Built in nine months at a cost of US$90million, the 10,000sqm Premium Terminal features facilities ranging from check-in, duty-free shopping, conference rooms, nursery and play area to spa treatment rooms, sauna, jacuzzi and restaurants. Water features are used throughout.

[edit] Codeshare partners

[edit] Incidents and accidents

• An Airbus 330-200 (Flight QR889) suffered a double engine flameout on approach into Shanghai on June 1, 2006 after a flight from Doha. Both engines were restarted and an emergency landing made at Pudong International. The aircraft, registered A7-ACI, had just been delivered.^[13]
• On April 19, 2007, an Airbus 300-600R (registration A7-ABV) was written off as a result of a hangar fire during maintenance at Abu Dhabi International Airport (GAMCO maintenance center).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Qatar Airways

• Official website