Qatar Airways CEO Says No to First Class on Boeing 777-8 and -9: Is This a New Trend?

Qatar Airways, one of the leading airlines in the world, has decided to skip first class on its upcoming Boeing 777X aircraft. The carrier’s CEO, Akbar Al Baker, has said that the airline does not see the need for a first class cabin on the new jets, given the high quality of its business class product, known as the Qsuite.

Qatar Airways has ordered 60 Boeing 777-9s and 10 Boeing 777-8s, which are expected to be delivered from 2025 onwards. The airline was originally supposed to be the launch customer of the 777X, but the program has faced several delays due to technical issues and regulatory hurdles.

The 777X is Boeing’s latest and largest twin-engine jet, designed to compete with Airbus’ A350 and A380. The 777X features a new composite wing, folding wingtips, larger windows, and more efficient engines. The 777-9 can seat up to 426 passengers in a two-class configuration, while the 777-8 can seat up to 384 passengers and fly longer distances.

Qatar Airways currently offers first class only on its Airbus A380s and some of its Boeing 777-300ERs. However, the airline plans to retire its A380s by 2028, as they are considered too costly and environmentally unfriendly. The airline also operates a fleet of Airbus A350s, Boeing 787s, and Airbus A330s, which do not have first class cabins.

According to Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ Qsuite business class product is so good that it offers all the amenities that first class does. The Qsuite features private suites with sliding doors, lie-flat seats that can be converted into double beds or quad configurations, large entertainment screens, and personalized service.

“Why should you invest in a subclass of an aeroplane that already gives you all the amenities that first class gives you,” Al Baker told Bloomberg in Istanbul. “I don’t see the necessity.”

Al Baker also said that Qatar Airways is studying the possibility of introducing a very exclusive first class cabin of just four seats on some of its Boeing 777-9s for its local passengers who want a very exclusive first class product. However, this would not be on the initial 777X deliveries, as the airline needs time to develop it.

Qatar Airways is not the only airline that has decided to ditch first class on its Boeing 777X aircraft. Lufthansa, another launch customer of the 777X, has also announced that it will not have first class on its new jets. Instead, it will have a new business class product with direct aisle access and more privacy.

Other airlines that have ordered the Boeing 777X include Emirates, Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, ANA, and British Airways. It remains to be seen if any of these airlines will opt for a first class cabin on their new planes.