DOHA: Qatar Airways announced that London is the first route for the world’s first commercial service of its Airbus A350-1000. The carrier is the global launch customer for the state-of-the-art-aircraft, following delivery by Airbus from the aircraft manufacturer’s base in Toulouse, France last Tuesday.
The world’s first A350-1000 XWB embarked on its first commercial service to the UK capital on Saturday, February 24 as QR 15 at 15:55 hrs and after a seven-hour 30 minute flight, landed at London’s Heathrow Airport at 20:25 hrs. The A350-1000 will operate a daily non-stop service between Doha and London.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “We have chosen London as the inaugural destination for this remarkable aircraft because at 23 feet longer than the A350-900, it is able to provide a significant increase in capacity on one of our most popular routes, offering enhanced levels of comfort for our passengers. For the first time in an Airbus aircraft, it will also feature our award-winning, patented Qsuite, offering a First Class experience in Business Class for both business and leisure travellers.
“As one of our flagship routes, we provide our passengers with the most advanced aircraft to fly in comfort and style from Doha to London. Our new A350-1000 provides this in abundance, alongside its sister aircraft, the A350-900, the double-decker A380 as well as the Boeing Dreamliner and the Qsuite-fitted Boeing 777. We look forward to introducing this highly-impressive next-generation aircraft to many other cities, thanks to our extensive and rapidly expanding global route network.”
Airbus Executive Vice President, Chief of Sales, Marketing and Contracts, Eric Schulz, said: “We welcome Qatar Airways’ choice to launch commercial service of their new A350-1000 to one of the world’s most prominent airports, London Heathrow. This milestone marks a game change in wide body operator economics and long-haul passenger comfort. The A350-1000 features the quietest cabin in its size category and minimise environmental impact with less fuel burn, lower noise and reduced emissions, making it a great neighbor for London citizens."
Qatar Airways offers six flights a day between Doha and London, providing a fast and frequent connection between the two capital cities. Later this year, Qatar Airways will launch the first daily direct flights between Doha and Cardiff, UK. From 1 May 2018, the new service will provide the Welsh capital with links to the rest of the world via Qatar Airways’ extensive global route network.
