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Revision as of 11:14, 21 May 2013

Qatar Airways
القطرية
IATA ICAO Callsign
QR QTR QATARI
FoundedNovember 22, 1993
Commenced operationsJanuary 20, 1994
HubsDoha International Airport
Hamad International Airport (future)
Frequent-flyer programQatar Airways Privilege Club (Qmiles)
AllianceOneworld (joining in October 2013)[1]
Subsidiaries
  • The Qatar Aircraft Catering Company
  • Qatar Airways Holidays
  • United Media Int
  • Qatar Duty Free
  • Qatar Aviation Services
  • Qatar Distribution Company
  • Qatar Executive
Fleet size122
Destinations124 incl. cargo
Parent companyGovernment of Qatar
HeadquartersQatar Airways Towers
Doha, Qatar
Key peopleAkbar Al Baker (CEO)
Websitewww.qatarairways.com

Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (Arabic: القطرية, Al Qatariyah[2]), operating as Qatar Airways, is the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha,[3] it operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 100 international destinations from its base in Doha, using a fleet of more than 100 aircraft.

Qatar Airways operates services across Africa, Central Asia, Europe, Far East, South Asia, Middle East, North America, South America and Oceania, and was named Airline of the Year 2011 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.[4]

The airline has more than 20,000 staff, with 14,000 people employed directly and a further 6,000 in its subsidiaries.[5]

On October 8, 2012, CEO Akbar Al Baker announced that Qatar Airways would join the Oneworld alliance in late 2013 or early 2014.[6] On November 16, 2012, FC Barcelona announced that the airline would become the club's shirt sponsor from the start of the 2013–14 La Liga season, replacing Qatar Foundation.

History

Airbus A300-600RF Cargo at Doha International Airport
Qatar Airways Boeing 747SR at Gatwick Airport in 1996.

Qatar Airways was established on November 22, 1993. The airline started its operations on January 20, 1994 using a wet-leased Boeing 767-200ER from Kuwait Airways. It was originally owned privately by members of the royal family of Qatar. Then it was re-launched in 1997, under a new management team. Currently, the government of Qatar holds 50% stake in the airline with the rest held by private investors.

On March 24, 1997, Qatar Airways took possession of its first Airbus A300-600 aircraft on lease from AWAS in new Qatar Airways livery. On February 1, 1999, it took delivery of its first new Airbus A320 aircraft (A7-ABR) on lease from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE).

In May 2002, the Government of Qatar withdrew from Gulf Air. At that time fast-growing Qatar Airways had 21 aircraft.[7]

On May 10, 2003, Qatar Airways took delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 aircraft (A7-ACA). On January 11, 2004, at the Dubai Airshow, Qatar Airways placed orders for Airbus A380s and A340-600s.[8] Its first A340 was delivered on September 8, 2006.

On June 18, 2007, Qatar Airways became the launch customer for the Airbus A350 when it ordered 80 aircraft worth US$16 billion, at the Paris Air Show.[9] On June 27, 2007, Qatar Airways made its first flight to the US when it began service to New York.[10]

On November 11, 2007, Qatar Airways ordered 60 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and 32 Boeing 777s.[11] On November 29, 2007, the airline's first Boeing 777-300ER arrived at Doha.[12]

On February 3, 2009, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 777-200LR. The "LR" stands for "Long Range."[13]

On June 15, 2009, at the Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways ordered 20 Airbus A320 and 4 Airbus A321 aircraft worth $1.9bn.[14]

On October 12, 2009, the company completed the world’s first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas,[15] and on December 1, 2009 Qatar Airways' first scheduled flight to Australia arrived in Melbourne.

On May 18, 2010, the airline put its first Boeing 777F (A7-BFA) into service, with a flight from Doha to Amsterdam. The aircraft had been delivered on May 14, 2010.[16][17]

Qatar Airways is expanding. The airline has launched 22 new destinations since 2010, with nine more destinations announced: Ankara, Aleppo, Bangalore, Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Hanoi, Montreal, Nice, Phuket, São Paulo, Shiraz, Kolkata, Medina, Oslo, Sofia, Stuttgart, Venice and Tokyo. Qatar Airways also expected to launch Baku, Tblisi, and Entebbe during 2011.[needs update] These new routes will bring the number of destinations Qatar Airways serves from 85 to 110 worldwide.[needs update]

On June 22, 2011, Qatar Airways was recognized as the World's Best Airline at the 2011 World Airline Awards, in a ceremony held at the French Air and Space Museum as part of the 2011 Paris Air Show.[18]

In November 2011 at the Dubai Airshow, the airline announced an order of 55 Airbus planes: 50 A320neo and 5 A380, in addition to two Boeing 777 freighters.[19]

On January 27, 2012 Qatar withdrew from negotiations to buy Spanish carrier Spanair, which ceased operations later the same day.

In October 2012, Qatar Airways revealed its new route destination to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.[20]

On October 8, 2012 Qatar Airways and Oneworld announced its intention the join the alliance.

On December 13, 2012, Qatar Airways began Boeing 787 Dreamliner services to London Heathrow.

Qatar Airways in February 2013 launched its European Customer Service, which is located in Poland in Wrocław.

Company affairs and identity

Divisions

Qatar Airways has many divisions including: Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, Doha International Airport, Qatar Airways Holidays, United Media Int, Qatar Duty Free, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Distribution Company and Qatar Executive.

Cargo

The First Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777F landing at the Chennai International Airport in Chennai

Qatar Airways Cargo, the airlines freight branch, has ordered three Boeing 777F. The first Boeing 777F was delivered to the airline in on May 14, 2010, and has freight facilities able to handle 750,000 tonnes of cargo per annum during its first development phase. The Boeing 777F will be used primarily on Qatar Airways' Far East and European routes and will be supplemented by Airbus A300-600F freighters operating on regional routes feeding the airline's hub.

Dedicated cargo flights to Cairo International Airport were launched in June 2009 complementing the passenger services already operated.[21]

On August 18, 2010, the airline launched its first US dedicated cargo service from its hub in Doha to Chicago with a stop-over in Amsterdam, Netherlands using Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.[22]

Qatar Airways Cargo is poised to replace its Airbus A300-600F freighters with new-build Airbus A330-200Fs after concluding a lease deal with BOC Aviation. The carrier is also negotiating a larger deal for either new or converted Airbus A330 freighters[23]

Qatar Executive

Qatar Executive is a corporate jet subsidiary of Qatar Airways, with its own livery, sporting a white fuselage with a slightly smaller Oryx painted in the airline's traditional colours of burgundy and gray.

The Royal fleet of Qatar Emiri Flight also are painted in full Qatar Airways livery, athough they are not part of the airline or Qatar Executive.

Qatar Airways Airbus A330-300 at Manchester Airport, UK, painted in the new livery

Natural gas to liquid fuel demonstration

On October 12, 2009, a Qatar Airways Airbus A340-600 conducted the world's first commercial passenger flight using a mixture of kerosene and synthetic Gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuel, produced from natural gas, on its flight from London's Gatwick Airport to Doha.[24] The experiment's purpose was to demonstrate the viability of jet fuel made from a source not subject to rapidly fluctuating oil prices. In addition, positioning natural gas in particular as an alternative source of jet fuel is in the interests of the Qatari government; Qatar is the world's leading exporter of natural gas. However, some experts believe that GTL fuel is likely to remain a marginal choice due to an expensive production process.[25]

Cabin crew

Qatar Airways cabin crew was voted Best Cabin Crew in the Middle East for the seventh consecutive year at the 2009 Skytrax airline awards. The airline has over 120 nationalities among its cabin crew.

Sponsorship

In July 2013, Qatar Airways becomes FC Barcelona's shirt sponsors.[26] CEO Akbar Al Baker said : "We are delighted to form this alliance with FC Barcelona, the biggest football club in the world". In April 2013, Qatar Airways becomes Anorthosis Famagusta's Shirt sponsor

Destinations

Main article: Qatar Airways destinations

As of November 2012, Qatar Airways serves 124 destinations[27] and Qatar Airways Cargo serves 35 (including 28 destinations served by Qatar Airways also) destinations in 69 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania from its hub at Doha International Airport, making it one of only a handful of airlines to fly to all six inhabited continents.

Codeshare agreements

Qatar Airways has codeshare agreements with the following airlines and train systems, i.e. SNCF, (as of April 2013).:[28]

Interline Connections

Qatar Airways also has interline agreements with the following airlines:

Fleet

Current fleet

Airbus A330-200 painted in the old livery landing
Boeing 777-300ER landing
A Qatar Airways Airbus A320-200 taxiing at Berlin Tegel Airport (2010).

As of December 2012, the Qatar Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft,[33] with an average age of 5.3 years:[34]

Qatar Airways Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Options Passengers[35] Notes
F J Y Total
Airbus A319-100LR
2
—
—
—
8
102
110
Airbus A320-200
32 —
—
—
12
132
144
Airbus A321-200
12
—
—
—
12
165
177
Airbus A319neo
— 6
—
TBA
Airbus A320neo
— 30
—
TBA
Airbus A321neo
— 14
—
TBA
Airbus A330-200
16
—
—
12
24
192
228
To be replaced by A350.[citation needed] Up to 20 aircraft are planned to be converted into freighters.[36]
—
24
236
260
—
24
248
272
Airbus A330-300
13
—
—
12
18
200
230
12
24
217
253
—
30
275
305
Airbus A340-600
4
—
—
8
42
256
306
To be phased out.[citation needed]
Airbus A350-900
—
43
—
314 (TBA)
Launch customer
Airbus A350-1000
—
37
—
350 (TBA)
Airbus A380-800
—
13
3
517 (TBA)[37]
To be delivered from January 2014.[38]
Boeing 777-200LR
9 —[39]
—
—
42
217
259
Boeing 777-300ER
22 3 [40][41]
—
—
42
293
335
Boeing 787–8
5[42]
25
30
22
232
254[43]
Qatar Airways Cargo Fleet
Airbus A300-600RF
3
—
—
N/A
To be replaced by A330-200F.
Airbus A330-200F
2
1[23]
—
N/A
To replace A300-600RF. EIS:2013
Boeing 777F
4 4[41][44]
—
N/A
Total 124 173 33

Previously operated

Qatar Airways formerly operated the following aircraft:[45]

Fleet history
Aircraft Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A300-600R 1997 — 7 operated in total. 3 still in service as freighters.
Airbus A310-200 1994 1995 2 leased from Airbus Leasing
Boeing 727-200Adv 1995 1999 First aircraft type purchased by airline.
Boeing 747SR 1995 2009 2 purchased from Boeing, ex-All Nippon Airways

Though not affiliated with the airline, some VIP aircraft belonging to the Royal family and Government are also painted in Qatar Airways livery and are operating as Qatar Amiri Flight. These include the Airbus A310-300, A319CJ, A320, A330-200, A340-200, A340-500, Bombardier BD-100, BD-700 and a Qatar Air Force Boeing C17. It is expected that two Boeing 747-8BBJ on order will also be in the airline's colors.

Cabin

Qatar Airways First Class cabin

First class

Qatar Airways offers First Class passengers over 6.5 feet of legroom and seats that fold into flat beds with feather duvets. First Class seats are equipped with massage functions and an entertainment system. Qatar Airways plans to eliminate First Class cabins from existing A340 aircraft, as well as new aircraft deliveries, except the A380s.[46] Al-Baker has announced that all upcoming 777 and 787 deliveries will be in standard two-class configuration.

Business class

Qatar Airways offers Business Class passengers fully flat horizontal beds in a 2-2-2 configuration on board its Boeing 777 aircraft. On other long-haul aircraft, business class seats recline up to 172 degrees, with massage functions. Wines and Champagne are served.

Qatar Airways business class cabin

Qatar Airways has introduced new Business Class seats on board its newly delivered A320 aircraft with IFE seat-back PTVs in every seat. It will introduce the new seats in each upcoming new A320 aircraft, as well as retrofitting 4 existing A321 and 2 A319LR aircraft.

In March 2012 Qatar Airways revealed a new business class cabin, to be launched on the new Boeing 787 aircraft from summer 2012, initially on intra-Gulf routes before being introduced on the Doha to London Heathrow route. The new seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration allowing direct aisle access for every passenger, and provide almost twice as much space as existing business class cabins.[47] The seats will be 22 inches wide and converts easily to a flat-bed which extends to 80 inches and is 30 inches wide. Each seat has also been fitted with touch screen technology which is powered by Android.[48]

Economy class

Qatar Airways Economy Class was named best in the world in the 2009 and 2010 Skytrax Awards. Qatar Airways offers Economy Class passengers a seat pitch of up to 34 inches. Economy class passengers on A330/A340 aircraft are offered individual seat-back TV screens. Passengers on Boeing 777 aircraft are offered touch-screen TVs.

Qatar Airways has taken delivery of several A320 family aircraft so far with individual seat-back personal televisions in every seat in economy class. The IFE is equipped with the same Thales entertainment system as used in the widebody fleet. A further four A321s and the two A319LRs will be equipped with the new IFE, as well as new upcoming A320 family aircraft deliveries.

New economy seats will be introduced with the launch of the 787.[47] These new seats will be produced by Recaro and are fitted in a 3-3-3 configuration. 16,9 inch width and a pitch of 32 inches will offer less personal space than before. Furthermore each seat will have a 10.6 inch in seat TV monitor offering in-flight entertainment. The features will also extend to the possibility of Wi-Fi and GSM telephony usage and USB ports for connecting personal items such as digital cameras.[49]

Inflight entertainment

File:Qatarairways A330 economy.jpg
Qatar Airways economy class cabin with Oryx IFE

Qatar Airways' in-flight entertainment system is called Oryx Entertainment. With the exception of some Airbus A320 family aircraft, all aircraft have personal seat-back television screens. Some Airbus A320 family aircraft are fitted with main screen entertainment. Qatar is updating Airbus A320 family aircraft to seat-back AVOD.

Privilege Club

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

Partnership with Lufthansa's Miles and More and United's Mileage Plus has been terminated as of December 31, 2011 and September 14, 2012, respectively.[50]

Qatar Airways Exclusive Premium Terminal and Premium Lounge

File:Premium 270 0090.jpg
Qatar Airways Exclusive Premium Terminal

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 include check-in, duty-free shopping, conference rooms, nursery and play area, spa treatment rooms, sauna, jacuzzi and restaurants. The business class lounge has undergone renovation that has increased the seating capacity by more than 80%. CEO Akabar Al Bakar is also leading the development of the New Doha International Airport, which opens in phases from 2011.

The airline's first lounge outside Doha airport opened at London Heathrow's Terminal 4 in January 2012 and is modelled after the airline's premium terminal in Doha.

Incidents and accidents

See also

References

  1. ^ http://support.qatarairways.com/entries/22623272-When-will-I-be-able-to-earn-or-redeem-my-oneworld-member-frequent-flyer-rewards-and-receive-my-other
  2. ^ "Qatar Airways – Vola a Dubai in un aereo a 5 stelle". DubaiBlog. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  3. ^ "Qatar Airways – Legal Information". Qatar Airways. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  4. ^ PR Newswire (June 22, 2011). "Qatar Airways Named Airline five star of the Year at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2011". Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  5. ^ "Qatar Airways Fact Sheet" (PDF). Qatar Airways. 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ oneworld alliance (October 2012). "Qatar Airways to join oneworld alliance". Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. – FREE Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. information | Encyclopedia.com: Find Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. research
  8. ^ Qatar Airways Orders Airbus A380s And A340-600s[dead link]
  9. ^ Qatar Airways orders 80 Airbus A350XWB worth US$16 billion[dead link]
  10. ^ Qatar Airways Maiden USA Flight Arrives In New York[dead link]
  11. ^ Qatar Airways Orders 60 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners And 32 Boeing 777
  12. ^ Qatar Airways celebrates delivery of first Boeing aircraft as Boeing 777-300ER lands at Doha International Airport
  13. ^ Qatar Airways Takes Delivery of First Boeing 777-200LR[dead link]
  14. ^ Qatar Airways Buys 24 Airbus A320 Family Aircraft[dead link]
  15. ^ qatarairways.com[dead link]
  16. ^ Qatar Airways New Boeing 777 Freighter Goes Into Operation[dead link]
  17. ^ "Qatar Airways puts first 777F into service". Flightglobal.com. May 18, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  18. ^ "Qatar Airways wins the worlds Best Airline award". Worldairlineawards.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  19. ^ "Airbus clinches Qatar 55-plane order". The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online. November 16, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  20. ^ Calderon, Justin (October 26, 2012). "Qatar Airways to launch Cambodia flights". Inside Investor. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  21. ^ Thepeninsulaqatar.com[dead link]
  22. ^ "Qatar Airways to begin Chicago freighter service | Qatar Airways". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Qatar Airways leases three A330-200Fs to replace A300Fs". Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  24. ^ "Qatar Airways Makes GTL History". Downstream Today. October 15, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  25. ^ Qatar Airways Flies Plane With New Fuel, Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, October 14, 2009, p.B2
  26. ^ Qatar Airways becomes Barcelona's shirt sponsors, albawaba.com, November 17th, 2012
  27. ^ "Welcome to Qatar Airways – World's 5-star airline". Qatarairways.com. September 17, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  28. ^ "Codeshare with Qatar Airways". .qatarairways.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  29. ^ American Airlines And Qatar Airways Announce New Codeshare Relationship - Yahoo! Finance
  30. ^ JetBlue Announces Codeshare with Qatar Airways - Yahoo! Finance
  31. ^ "Oman Air, Qatar Airways sign codeshare". December 17, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012. {{cite news}}: Text "publisher-arabianbusiness.com" ignored (help)
  32. ^ "Qatar Airways and Precision Air announce partnership" (Pressrelease). Qatar Airways. November 1, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  33. ^ "Qatar Airways Fleet". Airfleets.net. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  34. ^ "Fleet age Qatar Airways". Airfleets.net. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  35. ^ "Our fleet". qatarairways.com. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  36. ^ "Qatar Airways to convert A330 jets to freighters". Dubai: Reuters. May 1, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  37. ^ "VIDEO: Qatar CEO outlines Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 plans". Flightglobal.com. February 3, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  38. ^ Nicola Clark (July 10, 2012). "Qatar Airways Delays Jet Delivery Over Wing Cracks". The New York Times. Farnborough, England. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  39. ^ "More orders at Farnborough on day three". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. July 21, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  40. ^ "Boeing, Qatar Airways Announce Order for Six 777-300ERs – LE BOURGET". France: Prnewswire.com. June 20, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  41. ^ a b Michelle Dunlop, Herald Writer. "– Aerospace blog: Qatar Airways announces order for five Boeing 777s". Heraldnet.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  42. ^ Qatar Airways Takes Delivery of Its First Boeing 787
  43. ^ Qatar Airways: New seats for B787 (polish source), retrieved March 12, 2012.
  44. ^ "Airbus Secures $20.5 Billion Deal at 2011 Dubai Air Show – International Business Times". Ibtimes.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  45. ^ Flight International World Airline Directory 1994–2002
  46. ^ "Businessweek.com". Doha.biz. March 10, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  47. ^ a b "Business And Economy Class Seats Make Debut At World's Biggest Travel Show". Berlin, Germany: Qatar Airways. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  48. ^ Clements, Richard. "Qatar Airways Reveals Features of Boeing 787 Dreamliner". SKYCLUB LATEST NEWS. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  49. ^ "Qatar Airways Unveils New Boeing 787 Seats At ITB Berlin". Qatar Airways. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  50. ^ "Miles & More – Ending of our partnership with Qatar Airways". Miles-and-more.com. October 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  51. ^ "Qatar A300-600 destroyed". Flight International. May 1, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
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