DOHA, Jan. 28, 2018
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker gets off an Airbus A350-1000 jet at Doha International Airport in Doha, capital of Qatar, on Jan. 27, 2018. The brand new aircraft arrived in Doha as part of its demonstration tour to 12 Middle East and Asian-Pacific destinations.
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar al-Baker welcomed the arrival of the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft to Doha, as part of a special demonstration tour by Airbus.
The visit was the first stop by the advanced aircraft to 12 destinations throughout the Middle East and the Asia Pacific, designed to showcase the aircraft’s exclusive features to airlines and passengers.
The arrival of the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft comes just a month before Qatar Airways will become the global launch customer for the world’s first A350-1000.
The aircraft performed an “impressive fly-by” over Doha Corniche to commence its international tour. During its stop in Doha, the test aircraft was visited by local dignitaries and VIPs, who were given a guided tour of the A350-1000 hosted by al-Baker.
Among the VIPs were French ambassador Eric Chevallier; German ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel; Spanish ambassador Ignacio Escobar and the British ambassador Ajay Sharma.
Hamad International Airport chief operating officer Badr al-Meer was also present.
Qatar Airways has ordered 37 of the world’s most advanced passenger aircraft. Next month it will take delivery of the very first aircraft off the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse.
Qatar Airways will be receiving nearly 30 new aircraft this year
Qatar Airways will be receiving nearly 30 new aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus this year, Group Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker has said.
“We are not going to place any new order at the moment unless we do more acquisition of airlines during this year. In that case, we will see the requirements in our new acquisition of airlines.
“For the time-being, what we have ordered is already in the pipeline. We have more than 300 aircraft that are still to be delivered. So I think it is already a lot for a small country like Qatar and a large airline like Qatar Airways,” al-Baker told the media here Saturday.
Asked whether Qatar Airways has slowed down following the illegal blockade on the nation by a quartet of Arab countries, al-Baker said, “We have not slowed down. We are not going to slow down our march ahead in any manner. We have a very clear vision both by the government and the airline. We are clearly expanding.”
Next month, Qatar Airways will become the global launch customer for the world’s very first A350-1000. The national carrier has ordered 37 of the world’s most advanced passenger aircraft.
Gulf News
