Qatar Airways
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| Founded | November 22, 1993 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | January 20, 1994 | ||||||
| Hubs | Doha International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Qmiles) | ||||||
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 109 incl. cargo | ||||||
| Destinations | 119 incl. cargo | ||||||
| Parent company | Government of Qatar | ||||||
| Headquarters | Qatar Airways Towers Doha, Qatar | ||||||
| Key people | Akbar Al Baker (CEO) | ||||||
| Website | www.qatarairways.com | ||||||
Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (Arabic: القطرية, Al Qatariyah[1]), operating as Qatar Airways, is the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha,[2] it operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 100 international destinations from its base in Doha, using a fleet of over 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.[3]
The airline employs more than 20,000 people. 14,000 employees work for the airline directly while the other 6,000 work in the airline's subsidiaries.[4]
History
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion with: more info about events between 1993 and 2007.. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (November 2010) |
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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 by private members of the royal family of Qatar. However, it was re-launched in 1997, under a new management team. Currently, the government of Qatar holds 50% stake of Qatar Airways and the rest is held by private investors.
On March 24, 1997, Qatar Airways received their first Airbus A300-600 aircraft on lease from AWAS in new Qatar Airways livery. On February 1, 1999, they took delivery of their first new Airbus A320 aircraft (A7-ABR) on lease from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE).
On May 2002, the Government of Qatar withdrew from Gulf Air. At that time fast-growing Qatar Airways had 21 aircraft.[5]
On May 10, 2003, Qatar Airways took delivery of their first Airbus A330-200 aircraft (A7-ACA). On January 11, 2004, at the Dubai Airshow, Qatar Airways ordered Airbus A380s and A340-600s.[6] Their 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.[7] On June 27, 2007, Qatar Airways made its first flight to the US when it began service to New York.[8]
On November 11, 2007, Qatar Airways ordered 60 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and 32 Boeing 777s.[9] On November 29, 2007, the airline's first Boeing 777-300ER arrived at Doha.[10]
On February 3, 2009, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 777-200LR. The "LR" stands for "Long Range."[11]
On June 15, 2009, at the Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways ordered 20 Airbus A320 and 4 Airbus A321 aircraft worth $1.9bn.[12]
On October 12, 2009, Qatar Airways completed the world’s first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas, [13] 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.[14][15]
Qatar Airways is expanding. The airline has launched 22 new destinations since 2010, with 9 more destinations announced. These new destinations which Qatar Airways has already launched are Ankara, Aleppo, Bangalore, Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Hanoi, Montreal, Nice, Phuket, São Paulo, Shiraz, Kolkata, Medina, Oslo, Sofia, Stuttgart and Venice, and Tokyo. Qatar Airways will also 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.[16]
In November 2011 at the Dubai Airshow, the airline announced an order of 55 Airbus planes: 50 A320neo and 5 A380, in addition to 2 Boeing 777 freighters.[17]
On January 27, 2012 Qatar withdrew from negotiations to buy Spanish carrier Spanair, which later ceased operations on the same day.
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
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 that operate 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.[18]
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 with Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.[19]
Qatar Executive
Qatar Executive is a corporate jet subsidiary of Qatar Airways. The jets are painted in a different paint scheme than the rest of Qatar Airways' fleet, sporting a white fuselage with a slightly smaller Oryx painted in the airline's traditional colors of burgundy and gray.
The Royal fleet of Qatar Emiri Flight also are painted in full Qatar Airways livery, however they are not part of the airline or Qatar Executive.
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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-Liquid (GTL) fuel, produced from natural gas, on its flight from London's Gatwick Airport to Doha.[20] 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.[21]
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. Qatar Airways has over 120 nationalities as cabin crew.
Destinations
As of July 2012, Qatar Airways serves 119 [22] destinations and Qatar Airways Cargo serves 33 (including 26 destinations served by Qatar Airways also) destinations in 66 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania from its hub at Doha International Airport, making it one of only a small number 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 2012).[23]:
Fleet
Current fleet
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As of April 2012, the Qatar Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft,[24] with an a average age of 4.9 years:[25]
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Options | Passengers[26] | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | J | Y | Total | |||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| 29 | 1 | |||||||
| — | 50 | |||||||
| 12 | ||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||
| 9 | —[28] | |||||||
| 17 | 8 [29][30] | |||||||
| Qatar Airways Cargo Fleet | ||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4[30][32] | |||||||
| Total | 109 | 182 | 33 | |||||
Previously operated
Qatar Airways formerly operated the following aircraft:[33]
| 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, these include the Airbus A310-300, A319CJ, A320P, A330-200, A340-200, A340-500, Bombardier BD-100, BD-700 and a Qatar Air Force Boeing C17, the fleet also operate using the airlines codes. It is expected that two Boeing 747-8BBJ on order will also be in the airline's colours.
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.[34] Al-Baker has announced that all upcoming 777 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 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. [35] 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. [36]
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 TV's.
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.[35] These new seats will be produced by Recaro and are fitted in a 3-3-3 configuration. This configuration features one less seat per row compared to competitors on other wide body aircraft and thus promises to offer a totally different travel experience. 16,9 inch width and a pitch of 32 inches will offer more 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 for instance digital cameras.[37]
Inflight entertainment
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 A330s and the remaining Airbus A320 family aircraft are fitted with main screen entertainment. Qatar is updating Airbus A320 family aircraft to seat-back AVOD and removing main screen entertainment from some Airbus A330s.
Privilege Club
Qatar Airways' Privilege Club loyalty programme has reciprocal agreements with Asiana Airlines' Asiana Club, bmi's Diamond Club, Middle East Airlines' Cedar Miles, All Nippon Airways' Mileage Club, United Airlines MileagePlus, 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 has ended 31st Dec 2011 [38]
Qatar Airways Exclusive Premium Terminal and Premium Lounge
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 could be found in terminal 4 at London Heathrow. The lounge opened in January 2012 and is modelled after their premium terminal in Doha. Now it covers about120 destinations across the globe in 6 continents.
Incidents and accidents
- On April 19, 2007, an Airbus A300-600R (registration A7-ABV) was written off as a result of a hangar fire during maintenance at Abu Dhabi International Airport (GAMCO maintenance center).[39]
- In October 2010, Qatar Airways Flight 645 operating from Manila to Doha was forced to land in Kuala Lumpur after the captain died midflight. After a safe landing in Kuala Lumpur, a new flight crew took over and flew the plane to Doha. Doha-based Al Jazeera reported that the pilot died of a heart attack.[40]
- On September 19, 2008, Qatar Airways Flight 52 (a Boeing 777-300 bearing registration A7-BAA) en route from Washington DC to Doha declared emergency due to engine failure about 175nm west of Gander. The airplane landed safely at Gander about 50 minutes after the engine failure. The crew had attempted a relight of the engine, during which the EGT limits were exceeded. Subsequent inspection after landing revealed tiny particles in the tailpipe and debris on chip detectors. The engine was removed and sent to the manufacturer for further analysis. A replacement aircraft, an Airbus A330-200, (registration A7-ACA) was dispatched to Gander as flight QR3052 to bring the passengers to London Heathrow. [41]
See also
- Qatar Amiri Flight, who operates aircraft in Qatar Airways colour schemes
- Qatar National Day
- Transport in Qatar
References
- ^ "Qatar Airways – Vola a Dubai in un aereo a 5 stelle". DubaiBlog. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
- ^ "Qatar Airways – Legal Information". Qatar Airways. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ^ PR Newswire (June 22, 2011). "Qatar Airways Named Airline five star of the Year at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2011". Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ^ "Qatar Airways Fact Sheet" (PDF). Qatar Airways. 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2690300092.html
- ^ Qatar Airways Orders Airbus A380s And A340-600s[dead link]
- ^ Qatar Airways orders 80 Airbus A350XWB worth US$16 billion[dead link]
- ^ Qatar Airways Maiden USA Flight Arrives In New York[dead link]
- ^ Qatar Airways Orders 60 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners And 32Boeing 777
- ^ Qatar Airways celebrates delivery of first Boeing aircraft as Boeing 777-300ER lands at Doha International Airport
- ^ Qatar Airways Takes Delivery of First Boeing 777-200LR[dead link]
- ^ Qatar Airways Buys 24 Airbus A320 Family Aircraft[dead link]
- ^ qatarairways.com[dead link]
- ^ Qatar Airways New Boeing 777 Freighter Goes Into Operation[dead link]
- ^ "Qatar Airways puts first 777F into service". Flightglobal.com. May 18, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ "Qatar Airways wins the worlds Best Airline award". Worldairlineawards.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ "Airbus clinches Qatar 55-plane order". The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online. November 16, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ Thepeninsulaqatar.com[dead link]
- ^ "Qatar Airways to begin Chicago freighter service | Qatar Airways". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ "Qatar Airways Makes GTL History". Downstream Today. October 15, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ Qatar Airways Flies Plane With New Fuel, Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, October 14, 2009, p.B2
- ^ "Welcome to Qatar Airways – World's 5-star airline". Qatarairways.com. September 17, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ "Codeshare with Qatar Airways". .qatarairways.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ "Qatar Airways Fleet". Airfleets.net. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ^ "Fleet age Qatar Airways". Airfleets.net. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ^ qatarairways.com - our fleet
- ^ "VIDEO: Qatar CEO outlines Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 plans". Flightglobal.com. February 3, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ "More orders at Farnborough on day three". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. July 21, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Boeing, Qatar Airways Announce Order for Six 777-300ERs - LE BOURGET". France: Prnewswire.com. June 20, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ a b Michelle Dunlop, Herald Writer. "– Aerospace blog: Qatar Airways announces order for five Boeing 777s". Heraldnet.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ Qatar Airways: New seats for B787 (polish source), retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ "Airbus Secures $20.5 Billion Deal at 2011 Dubai Air Show - International Business Times". Ibtimes.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ Flight International World Airline Directory 1994–2002
- ^ "Businessweek.com". Doha.biz. March 10, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Clements, Richard. "Qatar Airways Reveals Features of Boeing 787 Dreamliner". SKYCLUB LATEST NEWS. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "Qatar Airways Unveils New Boeing 787 Seats At ITB Berlin". Qatar Airways. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "Miles & More - Ending of our partnership with Qatar Airways". Miles-and-more.com. October 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ "Qatar A300-600 destroyed". Flight International. May 1, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
- ^ Hindustan Times. October 14, 2010 http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/RestOfAsia/Qatar-Airways-pilot-dies-in-flight/Article1-612737.aspx. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ AV Herald. September 19, 2008 http://avherald.com/h?article=40d0107c. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
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External links
- Official website
- Official mobile website
- Qatar Executive
- Qatar Airways Cargo
- Qatar to Houston – Qatar Airways
- Oryx In-flight Magazine – www.oryxinflightmagazine.com
