Qatar Airways certainly had a lot to show off at the recent Farnborough International Airshow. As well as six planes on display, Qatar Airways CEO, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker made several interesting announcements during the show.
The Qatar Airways aircraft on display
Visitors to Farnborough International Airshow truly had a treat with six Qatar Airways aircraft on display. These included a Qatar Cargo Boeing 747-8F, a Boeing 777-300ER and the stunning Airbus A350-1000.
In addition, also on display were two planes from airlines that Qatar Airways has a stake in, namely an Air Italy Boeing 737 MAX and a JetSuite X E-135.
Big Announcements from His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker attended the show and he had plenty to say! On day one of the show it was announced that Qatar Airways has made a deal with Boeing to acquire five B777 freighters. The airline has also sealed a deal with CAE, a company that specializes in aviation training, for five full-motion flight simulators. Perhaps the most exciting news though, was the unveiling of Qatar Airways’s latest executive jet, the Gulfstream G500. The private jet industry is booming, so it’s no surprise that trend-seeking airline Qatar Airways is making the most of this! The final announcement was the plan to open an office in Shanghai, this is due to a growing customer base in Asia.
A closer look at the Gulfstream G500
Qatar Airways has ordered 25 of these innovative jets and the first one will enter the market later this year. Another 7 should be flying by the end of 2019. Qatar Airways already operates private jets, but the G500 is something pretty special. Due to the cutting edge Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines, these jets can fly at higher altitudes than those already operated by Qatar Airways.
This will enable a greater range of travel and opens up some lucrative routes such as London to Los Angeles and Tokyo to San Francisco. Up until now these routes were only possible with a re-fueling stop, so of course travel time will be greatly reduced.
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Inside the cabin, passengers will be treated to all that the latest technology can offer them. High speed Internet, satellite communication, the award winning Oryx One entertainment system and the innovative Gulfstream Cabin Management System. This system allows passengers to use their smartphone or tablet to control audio and video, and even the lights, temperature and window shades!
Julia has lived in five different countries during the last 10 years and have biked, hiked and traveled in more than 40 countries. She loves writing about beautiful vacation spots and untapped destinations.
