Qatar Airways looks forward to 2009 Delivery of A380

Qatar Airways, national airline of the State of Qatar, has ordered four A380-800s, of which two are on firm order and two on option.

The airline is scheduled to take delivery of its first A380 in 2009 to coincide with the opening of the New Doha International Airport (NDIA), the first airport in the world to be designed and built specifically to accommodate the twin-deck A380.

The 555-seat four-engined A380 is the most advanced aircraft ever built, designed in close collaboration with major airlines, airports and airworthiness authorities worldwide.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said, “We are looking forward to the arrival of this aircraft to join our existing all-Airbus fleet. It will provide the ultimate travel experience with spacious and comfortable cabins throughout the aircraft,” he said.

“Though we are four years away from taking delivery of our first A380, we are already working on creating spectacular interiors to make it an experience of a lifetime for our passengers.”

Qatar Airways plans to initially operate the A380 on its flagship European route between Doha and London Heathrow and other prime, high-density routes.

The New Doha International Airport is scheduled to open in 2009 at a cost of $2.5bn in the first phase and will be capable of handling 12 million passengers a year. Once fully developed in 2015 at a cost of $5.5bn, the airport is expected to handle up to 50 million passengers.

One of the project’s key features is that 40% of the site will be built on reclaimed land from the Persian Gulf.

Qatar Airways will manage the new airport, designed to help shape Doha as a key regional and global aviation hub.

Added Akbar Al Baker: “This airport will be custom-built for the new A380. Qatar Airways will proudly showcase this aircraft when it makes its maiden flight in our colours to the new airport in Doha in 2009.”

In October, Qatar Airways took delivery of the first of its 14 long-range A330-300s. The airline already operates the A330-200s, A300-600Rs, A321-200s, A320-200s and A319s.

During the 2003/2004 financial year, Qatar Airways carried 3.3m passengers, up 35% on the previous 12-month period. Passenger numbers are projected to rise sharply in the 2004/2005 period to 4.5m.

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