Qatar Airways has officially inaugurated the first A350 XWB, for which the airline is the global launch customer, with Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker hosting a press conference to a crowd of more than 150 international media personnel.
“We are ready to commence operations with the A350 XWB and are delighted to introduce another level of service with our expanded fleet,” Al Baker said. “The engineering design of the A350 XWB is modern, technologically refined and spacious, and we are proud to welcome yet another fine aeroplane into the Qatar Airways’ fleet.” As global launch customer for the A350 XWB, Qatar Airways will be the only airline to fly this aircraft type for the foreseeable future, and was a significant contributor to its cutting-edge design in partnership with aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, and engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce.
Didier Evrard, Airbus executive vice president and head of programs, attended the press conference along with Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce president of civil large engines. The two executives previously attended the official delivery of the aircraft from Airbus to Qatar Airways at a ceremony held in December at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Toulouse.
The A350 XWB will comprise a two-class configuration with 36 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring 80″ fully flat beds and 17″ HD in-flight entertainment screens. Economy class will comprise of 247 seats, each 18-inches wide in a 3-3-3 configuration, with up to a 32-inch pitch. Each individual seat will feature a 10.6″ in-flight entertainment screen, and more space at shoulder level for passengers in window seats, thanks to a vertical side wall panel design.
Over 70 percent of the A350 XWB’s weight-efficient airframe is made from advanced materials combining composites (53 percent), titanium and advanced aluminum alloys. The aircraft’s innovative all-new carbon fiber reinforced plastic fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier maintenance.
Qatar Airways is the only airline in the world to operate every family of Airbus’ modern airline portfolio. In addition to the 80 A350s it has on order, the airline has a current Airbus fleet comprising of the A320, A330 Freighter, A319LR, A321, A330, A340 and A380 families. The first commercial service will be deployed on the Doha-Frankfurt route on Jan. 15.
Source : Qatar News Agency
