DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) yesterday announced that it will exhibit three aircraft at Bahrain International Airshow at the Sakhir Airbase from January 21 to 23.
QA’s A350, for which it was the global launch customer, an A380 and Qatar Executive’s Bombardier Global 5000 business jet will be on static display.
The airshow, held biennially since 2010, offers visitors and participants opportunity to visit hundreds of companies, tour the aviation world’s most popular and latest-generation aircraft, and enjoy its famous five-hour flying display with free grandstand seating for families and visitors.
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, QA Group, said: “We look forward to welcoming guests and visitors on board our very latest aircraft at the Airshow, and celebrating the one-year anniversary of A350 operations as the global launch customer.
“The aircraft is the very latest in design, technology and comfort and will make its first appearance at the airshow this year, which will delight aviation enthusiasts, families and other visitors to the Middle East’s first major aviation event of 2016.”
QA will display its A350 with custom interiors, featuring a Business Class cabin comprising 36 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and Economy Class featuring 247 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.
QA was the global launch customer of the A350 last December and is the largest operator of this aircraft type.
It operates seven A350s and has 73 more A350s on order. QA operates regular commercial service to Frankfurt, Munich, Singapore and Philadelphia on the A350.
It will also display its twin-deck A380 ‘super jumbo’ aircraft, the largest passenger plane in the world, which features 517 seats — eight in First Class, 48 in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class.
QA operates six A380-800s to London, Paris and Bangkok.
Its private jet division, Qatar Executive, will showcase its impressive long-range Bombardier Global 5000, which features one of the widest and most spacious cabins among super-large business jets flying today.
The Global 5000 features an elegant two-cabin configuration with a separate galley, allowing discreet service and maximum comfort for up to 13 passengers.
Qatar Executive has seen rapid growth of operations since its inception in 2009, and flies a premium fleet of nine business jets.
Last month, Qatar Executive took delivery of its first Gulfstream G650ER, one of the most sought-after business jets in the market and the world’s largest and fastest civilian aircraft.
Considered the most technologically-advanced business jet, the aircraft is capable of flying non-stop from the Middle East to North America or from destinations in Asia to Africa – further, faster than any other jet of its kind.
QA is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, the airline operates a modern fleet of 175 aircraft flying to key business and leisure destinations across six continents.
Voted 2015 Airline of the Year by Skytrax, QA operates seven daily flights between Bahrain and the airline’s hub in Doha, from which it flies to more than 150 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Americas, Africa and Asia Pacific.
The Peninsula