Qatar Airways welcomes first A380
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Qatar Airways has welcomed its first ever Airbus A380.
The landmark delivery, which took place this week in a ceremony at the Airbus factory in Hamburg, will mark the start of a series of new aircraft arrivals for Qatar Airways, which is also planning to take delivery of the world’s first Airbus A350 later this year.
The Doha-based airline has a total of 10 A380s on order, with the first four expected to be delivered by the end of 2014. In total, Qatar Airways has outstanding orders for more than 300 aircraft, including almost 200 twin-aisle jets.
“This has been a moment more than a decade in the making and we are so delighted to unveil a new passenger experience for our travellers,” said Qatar Airways’ CEO, Akbar Al Baker. “The A380 that we are introducing is not just any A380; we have completely designed every element, giving it a signature touch that has never been seen before onboard.
“Additionally, the newly opened Hamad International Airport… has been specifically created with the A380 in mind, with five contact gates dedicated only for this aircraft, making the experience smooth and effortless for passengers.”
Qatar Airways’ A380s will come fitted with a total of 517 seats, with eight in first class, 48 in business class and 461 in economy. The first A380 is scheduled to operate the Doha-London Heathrow route, with the second operating to Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Qatar Airways becomes the 12th airline in the world to operate the A380, and only the second Middle Eastern airline after Emirates.
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