Qatar shows suite update on new Oz link

Grant Bradley

The airline has rolled out seven of its Boeing 777-300 equipped with 42 Qsuites on board and is fitting them to its new Airbus A350XWB1000s which will start to join its fleet later this month after delays fitting the suites in the new plane.

Qatar is the launch customer of the A350-1000. Airbus is showing off a demonstration model in Auckland today but that will be fitted with a generic cabin.

The airline began daily flights between Auckland and Doha just over a year ago in what is the longest non-stop route in the world. It uses a 777-200LR on that route, the only twin engine plane capable of making the distance, and it is not fitted with Qsuites. There is no timetable for retrofitting that model of 777.

Kiwi travellers can try the new suites out on selected routes. The new flight to Canberra allows the airline to service the bigger Sydney market twice a day. The short hop from Sydney to Canberra takes just over 30 minutes. No fare-paying passengers can board the plane in Sydney as the airline can’t fly domestic routes in Australia.

Canberra is the latest destination for the Doha-based carrier which flies to more that 150 places but not to its immediate neighbours following a deep political and diplomatic rift that broke open last year.

Qatar Airways has been hit by a blockade from neighbouring states led by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia which have closed off borders, airspace and landing rights.

Among passengers on board today’s inaugural flight was the airline’s chief executive Akbar Al Baker.

As part of its expansion the airline has just linked to Penang in Malaysia and is about to start new services to Greece in March, Turkey and April, Cardiff in May and Spain in June.