Aviation News – June 2021

[Aviation News]

Qatar Airways Resumes Phuket Flights as the Island Reopens to International Tourism

Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the rebound of international leisure travel with the resumption of four weekly flights to the famed holiday destination of Phuket, Thailand, starting 1 July 2021. In addition to its 12 weekly Bangkok flights, the airline will operate a total of 16 weekly flights to Thailand, providing seamless connectivity for its passengers travelling from Europe, the Middle East and United States.

As Thailand reopens to holidaymakers from around the world, fully vaccinated travellers will soon be able to visit once again whilst also enjoying the award-winning hospitality and service available on Qatar Airways and at its hub, Hamad International Airport, the first and only 5-Star COVID-19 Safety Rated Airport in the Middle East.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker said: “With the resumption of flights to Phuket, Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the recovery of international tourism. We are proud to have lead the industry, setting the benchmark for safety, innovation and customer service throughout the pandemic.

“We know many of our customers are eager to get back flying and return to some of their favourite holiday destinations, such as Phuket. Famed for its many exotic beaches, family friendly atmosphere, turquoise waters and delicious local cuisine, Phuket is an ideal destination for a summer getaway. We look forward to working with our partners in Thailand to support the recovery of their tourism sector.”

Launched in 2010, Phuket became Qatar Airways’ 93^rd destination at the time. The resort destination is a magnet for holidaymakers, particularly from Europe, the Middle East and United States. The route will be served by the airline’s modern and sustainable Boeing 787 Dreamliner with seating for 22 passengers in Business Class and 232 in Economy Class.

As travellers return to the skies with Qatar Airways, they can take comfort knowing that they are travelling with the only airline in the world that has, together with its state-of-the-art global hub Hamad International Airport, achieved four 5-Star Skytrax ratings – including the prestigious 5-Star Airline Rating, 5-Star Airport Rating, 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating and 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These achievements highlight Qatar Airways’ commitment to providing its passengers with an industry-leading experience at every point of their journey, including the highest possible level of health and safety standards that safeguard the wellbeing of its passengers both on the ground and in the air.

Phuket schedule starting 1 July 2021:

Doha (DOH) to Phuket (HKT) QR 840 departs 02:55 arrives 13:30 (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Phuket (HKT) to Doha (DOH) QR 841 departs 02:30 arrives 05:30 (Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday)

To make a booking, head over to qatarairways.com

Qatar Airways Introduces New Generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Featuring a New Business Class Suite

Qatar Airways will launch its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner passenger aircraft, featuring its new Business Class Suite, on a number of key routes to Europe and Asia, starting with its Doha to Milan service on Friday, 25 June 2021.

The ultramodern aircraft is scheduled for services from Doha to Athens, Barcelona, Dammam, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid and Milan and has a total passenger capacity of 311 seats – 30 Business Class Suites and 281 seats in Economy Class.

Crafted with the unique Qatar Airways design DNA and appealing to the most discerning of travellers, the new Adient Ascent Business Class Suite embodies a contemporary design that is truly personal, spacious and functional, allowing you to relax in your own private sanctuary.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al-Baker, said: “In-line with our commitment to offering our passengers an unparalleled travel experience, we are pleased to introduce this much-anticipated Business Class Suite on Qatar Airways’ newest wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 which will debut onto a number of key routes within our network.

“The new Business Class Suite sets yet another industry standard with a uniquely private experience for premium passengers travelling with us, which is becoming increasingly valuable during this pandemic, while showcasing Qatar Airways’ 5-star standards of excellence and Qatari hospitality that are quintessential on all of our flights.

“Our passengers deserve the best and I am confident that they will appreciate the larger Dreamliner variant for its unmatched comfort in the sky. Passengers can rest assured that its responsible impact on the environment fully aligns with our ambition to achieve the highest levels of sustainability.”

Arranged in a herringbone pattern, in a 1-2-1 configuration, each suite has direct aisle access with a sliding door to ensure the ultimate in privacy and comfort. Passengers seated in adjoining centre suites can slide the privacy panels away at the touch of a button to create their very own enclosed private space.

The Business Class Suite, transforms into a 79” fully-flat bed, offering elevated levels of comfort on board. Passengers can relax during their flight, knowing their personal mobile device is stored safely in a dedicated phone holder, equipped with a wireless charging technology that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

The Business Class Suite is complemented with the airline’s industry-leading onboard service from its award-winning cabin crew. This includes a wide selection of international cuisine, food and beverages, as well as healthy vegan meal options that are a part of Qatar Airways’ à la carte dine-on-demand menu. Not only will passengers indulge in award-winning cuisine, premium passengers are pampered with products and amenities from world-class brands including Narumi, BRIC’S, diptyque, TWG Tea, Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio and The White Company to name a few.

In Economy Class, the Recaro-produced seats exemplify the latest design and technology. Each seat is equipped with a 13-inch Panasonic IFE touch screen in addition to a personal electronic device holder for both mobile and iPad devices. The seat features a rotatable armrest that can be completely stowed away to the backrest, providing a more comfortable and spacious experience. Passengers will enjoy the full dining experience ‘Quisine’, offering an elevated Economy Class travel experience.

As a warm welcome on-board the new aircraft, Qatar Airways Official Composer, Dana Al Fardan has created a new masterpiece portraying the mutual vision Qatar Airways and Dana share in bringing people together. After recent challenging times, this music represents an awakening and a deeper understanding of the real value of people, harmony and resilience.

The Boeing 787-9 is the latest member of the Boeing aircraft in Qatar Airways’ fleet. As the Middle East launch customer for the Boeing 787, the airline has continued to fly its fleet of 30 787-8s throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to its strong fuel efficiency and excellent reliability record. Qatar Airways’ investment in the 787-9 underscores the airline’s commitment to sustainability and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Qatar Airways operates one of the youngest fleets in the sky. The airline’s mix of modern fuel-efficient aircraft has created a sustainable and adaptable solution, allowing it to continue flying routes with less demand through a variety of aircraft offering the right capacity in each market and far fewer emissions than larger four-engined aircraft. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on travel demand, the airline has taken the decision to ground its fleet of Airbus A380s as it is not commercially or environmentally justifiable to operate such a large aircraft in the current market. Qatar Airways’ fleet of 53 Airbus A350 and 37 Boeing 787 are the ideal mix for the most strategically important long-haul routes to Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.

To make a booking, head over to qatarairways.com

Photo credits: Qatar Airways

Gulfstream Enhances G700 Cabin Environment with Lower Cabin Altitude

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced on 24 June 2021 a lower cabin altitude for the all-new Gulfstream G700™, further advancing the industry-leading Gulfstream Cabin Experience on the new business jet flagship.

Originally announced with a cabin altitude of 3,290 feet/1,003 meters when flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m, the G700 cabin altitude at the same flight level has been improved to 2,916 ft/889 m. With this enhancement, the G700 retains its leadership position with the lowest cabin altitude in the business aviation industry.

“Our focus on the customer experience is embedded in our commitment to continuous improvement. This new, industry-leading cabin altitude is a result of our ongoing investments in customer health and safety and will provide even more comfort for passengers over the ultralong-range flights the G700 is capable of achieving.”
Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream

In addition to the low cabin altitude, The Gulfstream Cabin Experience on the G700 includes 100% fresh, never recycled air; whisper-quiet noise levels; 20 of the industry’s largest windows; an all-new, high-definition circadian lighting system; and award-winning seat design with advanced ergonomics and a variety of enhanced comfort preferences customers can choose from.

The G700 cabin, the most spacious in the industry, first took flight on 15 April 2021, on the first fully outfitted production test aircraft. Gulfstream is taking the G700 interior through more than 15,500 test points to ensure the cabin’s comfort, maturity and durability upon its entry into service, anticipated in 2022.