Aircraft deploying on three European routes – Munich, Zurich and Frankfurt. All three destinations are currently operated with a mixed Airbus fleet.
DOHA, QATAR – Qatar Airways has embarked on its Boeing 787 European expansion with the deployment of the next generation aircraft on three additional routes – Munich, Zurich and Frankfurt.
The Doha-based carrier has started flying the Dreamliner on the Munich route four-times-a-week. Effective on January 14, the first-ever commercial flight of a Boeing 787 to Switzerland launches with Qatar Airways introducing the Dreamliner on the Zurich route three-times-a-week.
Beginning February 1, one of the double daily services to Frankfurt will be served by a Boeing 787. February 1 also signals an increase of 787 frequency on the Munich and Zurich routes to daily.
All three destinations are currently operated with a mixed Airbus fleet.
The addition of the German-speaking cities to the already established 787 on one of the five daily London Heathrow flights takes to four the number of European routes featuring the aircraft.
Also starting February 1, Qatar Airways will deploy the 787 on all daily flights from Doha to Perth. Qatar Airways will be the first airline to operate Dreamliner flights to and from Australia.
Qatar Airways currently operates four 787s, with a further 56 pending delivery. The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 787 in November.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “As an airline we are always striving to enhance the passenger experience in the skies by offering improved connectivity with convenient scheduling and an all-round new inflight product which makes a significant impact on travel decisions.
“In addition to introducing new routes, we are also relentlessly focused on improving the passenger experience when travelling with Qatar Airways. This is why there is so much hype around our Boeing 787 – it offers the travelling public a second-to-none flying experience straight through from comfort, to entertainment to gastronomy.”
Qatar Airways’ Dreamliner aircraft features 254 custom-made seats across its Business and Economy Class cabins with specially designed interiors, together with a unique inflight entertainment system offering over 1,000 audio and video fully interactive programming options. The Business cabin features 22 seats in a 1–2–1 layout while Economy has 232 seats in a 3–3–3 configuration.
A striking feature of every seat throughout the aircraft is the award-winning touch screen Android system, where passengers are able to navigate through a truly interactive service. The touch-screen control unit has a unique dual screen interface allowing passengers to play games on their handheld device while enjoying a movie on their personal screen.
Qatar Airways’ Dreamliner is also the world’s first fully connected 787 with wireless facilities that enable passengers to be fully connected with the ground through WIFI and GSM telephony and to send both text and MMS messages. Each seat is equipped with USB, MP3 and other charger ports, including laptop power outlets.
The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner is also complemented with a recently-introduced revamped inflight culinary menu. Four award-winning culinary ambassadors – Chef Ramzi Choueiri, Chef Vineet Bhatia, Chef Tom Aikens and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa from different parts of the world – have joined forces with Qatar Airways to create a new range of international signature dishes.
The 787 is built with composite materials making it lighter and more fuel efficient than any comparable aircraft of its size and range. Key features include larger windows, lower cabin pressure at higher altitude ensuring less fatigue, mood lighting throughout the aircraft and more passenger space and comfort.
Qatar Airways is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, currently operating 117 aircraft to 123 destinations worldwide with plans to fly over 170 aircraft to more than 170 destinations by the end of 2015.
Over the next few weeks and months, Qatar Airways will launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Najaf, Iraq (January 23); Phnom Penh, Cambodia (February 20); Chengdu, China (March 19); Chicago, USA (April 10); and Salalah, Oman (May 22).
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
