Qatar Airways has unveiled the new business and economy class seats that will be fitted on its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Qatar Airways’ CEO, Akbar Al Baker displayed the seat to Klaus Wowereit, the Mayor of Berlin, along with other VIPs on the opening day of the ITB travel trade show in the German capital. The seats are a central feature of Qatar Airways’ new exhibition stand, which is making its debut at the event.
Qatar Airways’ new Dreamliner will feature a total of 254 seats in a two-class configuration, with 22 in business and 232 in economy.
A key feature of every seat will be the touch-screen Android technology control units that will debut on Qatar Airways’ B787s. Through this in-flight entertainment system, passengers will be offered more than 1,000 movie, TV programmes, music and gaming entertainment options in a format similar to a smartphone. The touch-screen control unit has a dual screen, allowing passengers to play games on their handheld device while watching a movie or TV show on the seat-back screen. Passengers can also access the internet and send both SMS and MMS messages.
With a 1–2–1 configuration, with all business class passengers have direct aisle access. The seats are 22 inches (56cm) wide and extend into an 80-inch long flat bed.
Armrests can be adjusted to different heights to suit different body positions, while a large sliding table will enable passengers to rest their laptops on the table while dining. There is also a drawer and side compartment for personal belongings.
In 3–3–3 economy class cabin features 16.9-inch wide Recaro seats with seven inches of recline. Personal power ports are available in every seat, equipped with USB, MP3 and laptop power outlets.
“As we prepare to take delivery of our first Boeing 787 just months away, we are delighted to announce today a whole new passenger travel experience with the unveiling of our brand new seats that will be onboard the world’s newest aircraft,” said Al Baker.
“Space, comfort and ensuring our passengers have the best onboard entertainment options are key elements of our new Boeing 787s, promising to set new benchmarks in air travel. Qatar Airways has taken a lot of time and effort in ensuring we are true leaders in the field rather than followers, meticulously working with manufacturers on specific seat design and features.
“The 787 aircraft architecture is such that a lot of attention has been placed by Boeing on spacious cabins, which we are maximising to ensure our passengers get what they pay for – value for money and a great travel experience,” he added Al Baker.
Qatar Airways is the first Middle Eastern customer of the B787 Dreamliner with 60 aircraft on order, including options. The Doha-based airline is preparing to take delivery of five Dreamliners in 2012, with the first set to arrive in Qatar this summer.
The carrier will initially operate the aircraft on intra-Gulf routes before launching long-haul services to London in July.
