Qatar Airways Reveals Plans for Airbus A380s and Airbus A350s at Paris Air Show 2023

At the highly-anticipated media briefing during the Paris Air Show 2023, Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, shared the airline’s strategic vision for its fleet of Airbus A380s and Airbus A350s. Amid the fluctuating demand for air travel, the airline had previously grounded its A380s but later reintroduced them as travel demand picked up.

According to Al Baker, the airline is set to phase out its Airbus A380s once Airbus delivers the A350 aircraft. This move comes after resolving a dispute with Airbus over premature wear of the Airbus A350s’ paint surfaces, which had led to a temporary halt in the delivery slots for both the A321neo and A350.

As of now, Qatar Airways operates eight of its 10 Airbus A380s, with no immediate plans to reintroduce the remaining two to service. However, the carrier expects to receive 18 A350s out of a total of 23 ordered, with deliveries starting from 2025. The relationship between Qatar Airways and Airbus has significantly improved since resolving the previous dispute.

Alongside the Airbus A350s, Qatar Airways looks forward to Boeing’s delivery of the 777X-9, anticipated to commence in 2025, pending aircraft certification. During the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in June 2023, Boeing executives confirmed their plan to introduce the 777X in 2025.

In an interview at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Al Baker disclosed that the upcoming 777X aircraft for Qatar Airways will not feature First Class seats, highlighting the airline’s commitment to enhancing other cabin offerings.

Currently, Qatar Airways boasts a fleet of 34 Airbus A350-900 and 21 A350-1000 aircraft, with 21 deliveries of the latter model still pending, according to ch-aviation.com data.

The airline’s expansion plans and fleet adjustments demonstrate its dedication to providing exceptional travel experiences while catering to evolving passenger demands.”

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