Qatar Airways Launches Airbus A350 XWB Flights to Frankfurt

Qatar Airways has launched Airbus A350 XWB flights between Frankfurt and Doha.

Qatar Airways’ A350 XWB has a two-class configuration with 36 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring an 80” fully flat bed and 17” HD inflight entertainment screen. Economy Class comprises of 247 seats at 18-inches wide in a 3-3-3 configuration, with up to a 32-inch pitch. Each individual seat will feature a 10.6” inflight entertainment screen, and more space at shoulder level for passengers in window seats, thanks to a vertical side wall panel design.

Over 70% of the A350 XWB’s airframe is made from advanced materials combining composites (53%), titanium and advanced aluminum alloys. The aircraft’s innovative all-new Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier maintenance.

“At Airbus, we have been working towards this first commercial flight of the A350 XWB for nearly a decade. It filled me with great pride and satisfaction to see the first passengers enjoy the comfort and quietness of the aircraft in flight. The A350 XWB delivers a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency to its operators – and being the world’s quietest twin-engine widebody aircraft, it will truly be a good neighbour at every airport,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO.

Qatar Airways’ first A350 XWB is now officially operating one of the two daily services to Frankfurt, the airline’s first destination for this aircraft on its network of 146 destinations. The airline’s second A350 XWB, which will join the fleet in February, will also commence operations on the Frankfurt route beginning 1 March 2015.

Fraport AG Executive Board Member for Operations (COO), Anke Giesen, said, “The inauguration of the world’s first A350 XWB route from Doha to Frankfurt marks another milestone in aviation, which Frankfurt Airport is proud to share. We congratulate Qatar Airways, Airbus and Rolls-Royce on this magnificent airplane and this memorable day. We will all benefit from the latest technology that is being implemented with this advanced aircraft type: passengers, airlines as well as airports and their surrounding regions. The significant reduction in noise emissions achieved by the A350 will help contribute to quieter flying at Frankfurt.” 

Qatar Airways is currently the only airline in the world to operate every family of Airbus’ modern airline portfolio. In addition to the 80 A350s it has on order, the airline has a current Airbus fleet comprising of the A320, A330 Freighter, A319LR, A321, A330, A340 and A380 families.

Daily Flight plan Doha – Frankfurt with A350 from 15th January 2015:

Depart Doha QR67 at 07:40, arriving in Frankfurt at 12:30;
Depart Frankfurt QR68 15:25, arriving in Doha at 23:25.

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