Suites coming to business class

A year since Qatar Airways started flying the longest haul in the world between Auckland and Doha, airline chief Akbar Al Baker says the route is doing well and will be boosted next year with luxury Qsuites in business class. The new Boeing 777X-8 is also likely to be used on the route, but not until next decade. Al Baker told the Herald he was “pleasantly surprised” by the Auckland route. “We wouldn’t be flying just for the sake of flying, we need to make money.” The Qsuite, which is similar to some luxury suites in other airline’s first class cabins, was being retrofitted into all the airline’s Boeing 777s. ”Unfortunately it will take another year before you’re able to try the Qsuite on the New Zealand flight,” he said. Qatar uses a Boeing 777-200LR on the 14,525km journey, which can take more than 17 hours. The 777X-8 will not be available until early next decade, but can seat up to 375 passengers with a range capability of 16,110km. More ultra-long range flying from Doha is planned, which Al Baker said fitted the airline’s strategy of flying point to point directly, avoiding busy or congested hubs and preferring to fly passengers through its own near-new Hamad Airport. However, he said that while he was happy with the performance of the New Zealand operation, there were no plans to expand it. Qatar’s entry to the New Zealand market had helped fuel an airline price war at both ends

Hof the plane. He did warn that current elevated oil prices would be felt by passengers. “Any increase in oil price affects an airline and we are no different from that — the thing we’ll have to do is pass that increase to the customer. Fares will rise, of course they will,” said Al Baker. The Qsuite would be welcomed by premium travellers, said Sean Berenson, Flight Centre NZ general manager product. “We expect the Qsuite to resonate very well with our customers as premium travel increases in demand year on year. Over the last year we have seen a 16 per cent increase in business class and 11 per cent increase in premium economy travel. The new product would not only appeal to our business customers but also our ‘bleisure’ customers, particularly for long haul flights as they are guaranteed comfort for a more affordable price.”

Grant Bradley travelled to Canberra courtesy of Qatar Airways airline is heading for a loss this year.

But it is still expanding its fleet of 200 aircraft, taking delivery of a new aircraft every 10 days, on average, as part of a huge order book over the next eight years worth US$92 billion at list prices. The airline already flies to 150 places and 11 new destinations have been launched since the blockade was imposed.

“We have delivered,” said Al Baker. “Our country has persevered, our country has become stronger post blockade — that was not expected by our adversaries.”

Al Baker, who describes himself as outspoken, recounted the origins of the airline, which now consistently tops SKYTRAX customer polls.

When it was launched in 1990 it was a “small, backyard airline” with five dilapidated planes and the average fleet age was over 22 years. (That has now fallen to five years old.)

“I became the CEO in 1997 and relaunched Qatar Airways — peers in our region discounted me. They said this was all about talk, there was no substance and an airline from a small country cannot survive against big players in the region.”

Those i ncluded Gulf Air, Emirates, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Middle East Airlines.

“At that time I was only talking very humbly, saying people didn’t have to be worried about Qatar Airways — it will only have 35 airplanes and only have 35 destinations.

“Of course that was a smokescreen for what was my plan for my country because I had a very clear mandate from my ruler.”

Grant Bradley travelled to Canberra courtesy of Qatar Airways