(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Sachin Kumar | The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar Airways will continue to march ahead with its expansion plans, despite the unjust siege on the country. The award-winning airline will add 30 aircraft to its fleet in 2018 and will launch new destinations, said Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways.
The airline marked another global first yesterday with the touchdown of the world's first commercial passenger A350-1000 at Hamad International Airport.
Minister of Finance and Chairman of Qatar Airways Group, H E Ali Shareef Al Emadi, said: 'As a nation, we are tremendously proud to accept this aircraft as part of Qatar Airways' fleet by bringing it to Doha. It is testament to our continued commitment to the expansion of our national carrier, and to operating the most modern and technologically advanced aircraft available in the skies. We look forward to welcoming passengers from around the world on board our spectacular new A350-1000.
After performing a celebratory fly-by over Doha's Corniche, the arrival of the aircraft from the Airbus production facility in Toulouse, France, was greeted by a celebratory water cannon salute.
'As a Qatari, this is a moment of great pride for me, and for the country as a whole. Despite the illegal blockade against the State of Qatar, we have continued to thrive and grow. This ultra-modern aircraft will enable us to continue on that journey and bring people together from all parts of the world, allowing them to experience our renowned, world-class service, said Akbar Al Baker. 'With this blockade we are the winners because it has made Qatar stronger. In 2018, We will be adding close to around 30 aircraft, he said, talking to reporters at the Hamad International Airport.
The national carrier of Qatar is the global launch customer for the A350-1000, the world's most advanced passenger aircraft, fitted with the airline's revolutionary Qsuite Business Class seat. The carrier also announced it took delivery of an additional A350-900 yesterday.
'Qatar Airways is not going to slow down. We are going to keep on our expansion. We have announced so many new destinations and all this we will do as we are receiving more and more aeroplanes, Al Baker said.
Qatar Airways has already added many new destinations to its network in 2018, including Pattaya, Thailand; Penang, Malaysia and Canberra, Australia, with direct service to Cardiff, United Kingdom; Mykonos, Greece; and Malaga, Spain, set to launch this year. 'This expansion is going to keep on growing. Next moth we will receive seven more 350s in our fleet. We will receive 777s, again a record for an airline to receive seven aeroplane in just one month, it shows that our march is going ahead and Qatar Airways is really the star in the airline industry today, said Al Baker.
Airbus Vice-President Sales Commercial Aircraft, David Dufrenois; Rolls Royce Senior Vice President Middle East, John Kelly, and other senior officials were present during the event.
The new A350-1000 will go into full commercial service on the airline's Doha-London route, on which the A350-900, the A380, Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner already operate, offering six flights a day between Qatar and the United Kingdom's capital. The arrival of the A350-1000 is a sign of the airline's continued commitment to rolling out Qsuite across its fleet. The first aircraft fully-fitted with Qsuite was launched on the Doha-London route last summer on the B777, and was soon followed by service to Paris and New York, with service to Washington, DC launched last month.
Qatar Airways is known for its commitment to global firsts; in addition to being the global launch customer for the A350-1000, the airline was also the global launch customer for the A350-900 in 2014.
The airline also recently took delivery of its fourth state-of-the-art Gulfstream G650ER executive aircraft, the fastest ultra-long-range business jet in the world, making Qatar Airways the world's largest owner-operator of Gulfstream G650ERs.
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