Business Reporter QATAR Airways yesterday received its fifth Boeing 777-300ER aircraft even as the national carrier looked to further expand its network in 2009. The new aircraft touched down at Doha International Airport at 1.50pm yesterday following its long flight from Boeing’s manufacturing facility at Seattle in the United States. Qatar Airways has confirmed orders for 14 Boeing 777-300ERs, six 777-200LRs and seven 777-200Fs, with deliveries running until mid-2010. There are options for a further five Boeing 777 aircraft. The two passenger Boeing 777 variants will facilitate a major expansion in the airline’s long haul passenger network. The Boeing 777-200 freighters, which will be delivered from 2009, provide outstanding economics enabling Qatar Airways to build up an efficient cargo hub linking Europe and Asia, supplemented by its regional wide-body freighters. This time last year, Qatar Airways strengthened its relationship with Boeing by confirming orders for 30 of the company’s next generation Boeing 787 aircraft with options for a further 30. The airline will become the first Middle East carrier to operate both Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s. The airline is undergoing an aggressive expansion strategy over the next two years with outstanding orders for more than 200 aircraft worth around $40bn. The latest Boeing aircraft to join the fleet will be deployed on flights between Doha and Manila from January 2009 and continues to compound the firm relationship that has been established between Qatar Airways and the leading American aircraft manufacturer. Qatar Airways currently operates 11 flights a week to the Philippine capital. The 335-seat Boeing 777-300 Extended Range passenger aircraft features some 42 seats in business class in a 2–2–2 configuration, each offering a generous pitch of 78 inches and individual TV screens measuring 15.4 inches. Economy lass has some 293 seats in a 3–3–3 configuration with a 32-inch pitch and 10.6- inch TV screens, designed to offer optimum viewing. Both business and economy class cabins offer in-seat PC power supply. The aircraft also features a revamped in-flight entertainment system, Oryx Entertainment, offering each passenger more than 700 entertainment options. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said: “The arrival of the fifth Boeing 777 in Qatar Airways’ colours underlines the already strong and fruitful relationship that the carrier has with one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers. “As the year comes to an end, and the country winds down to enjoy the festive season, Qatar Airways was able to celebrate the arrival of the latest Boeing 777 to join the airline’s already four-strong Boeing 777 fleet. This recent addition is a momentous way to end what has been a truly historic year for the national carrier of Qatar which has seen, amongst other things, ten award wins, delivery of brand new aircraft and the launch of several new routes on both its passenger and cargo networks as well as increased frequency on existing ones.” With the addition of the new Boeing 777-300ER Qatar Airways now has 65 aircraft, including both Boeing and Airbus. They serve some 83 cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East and North America. From Gulf Times Good News!

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