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Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker: “ITB Berlin is a landmark show, the biggest travel event in the world, and Qatar Airways was once again privileged to showcase the best of the best” |
QATAR. Qatar Airways’ new look has been unveiled to the international media on the opening day of ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel fair.
The airline showed off its new aircraft livery, aircraft interiors and First Class lounge onboard its long-haul Airbus A340-600 aircraft.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker told travel journalists: “ITB Berlin is a landmark show, the biggest travel event in the world, and Qatar Airways was once again privileged to showcase the best of the best.
“We made our biggest announcement for years unveiling our brand new aircraft livery which will be introduced progressively on all our aircraft from this summer. And we showcased our new First Class lounge that will be introduced on the first of our long-haul Airbus A340-600 aircraft, which joins the Qatar Airways fleet from this summer.”
Qatar Airways is the launch customer of the High Gross Weight A340-600 aircraft which is capable of flying up to 14 hours non-stop with a full load of passengers and cargo. It plans to serve the US non-stop from Doha.
Added Al Baker: “Qatar Airways has become a more progressive and confident airline, taking the lead in the global aviation industry with innovative products, inflight service and style. Qatar Airways is entering a new era, which is why we have unveiled a bold new look that projects us as a more powerful international brand.”
Qatar Airways’ new livery dispenses with the word Airways and instead the word QATAR is emblazoned across the fuselage. The tail fin is painted burgundy with an image of the Oryx, national animal and icon of the State of Qatar. The change is designed to reflect the importance of Qatar as a country to the rest of the world.
During ITB, Al Baker guided journalists around Qatar Airways’ new exhibition stand, a two-tier structure inspired by the design of the New Doha International Airport which is under construction.
In other news, Qatar Airways is to launch daily non-stop scheduled flights between Doha and Hong Kong on 26 March.
Qatar Airways operates a fleet of 44 all-Airbus aircraft which will almost triple in size to 110 jets by 2015. The airline plans to acquire up to 60 of the new-generation Airbus A350s and 20 Boeing 777s with a total value of US$15.2 billion.
The airline is one of the few carriers in the world ranked Five Star by Skytrax. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways’ cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the third year running in 2005 and fifth best in the world following a survey of more than 12 million passengers worldwide.
Qatar Airways flies to 69 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia, and with its code-sharing partners serves more than 80 destinations.
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