Qatar Airways has decided to upgrade its business class. The new offering will be similar to first-class style enclosed private cabins with sliding doors. The new business class seats would be installed on the airline’s new Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-300ER aircrafts by the end of 2016.
Media reports also said that Qatar Airways will be retrofitting the upgraded business class seats on its existing fleet, with around three per month. The airline is planning to organize an impressive media launch of its new business class offering in November and would be launching its on the routes in December this year.
According to the reports, Qatar Airways’ major Middle East rival Emirates Airline has also revealed its plans to launch its new business class seats in November 2016. Emirates Airline has already displayed its new business class product in the recently concluded Berlin International Travel Trade Show. The airline’s new product prominently featured a fully-flat bed as well as a privacy panel.
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive of Qatar Airways Group, said, “The new cabins would be in fact a first class offering at a business class fare. They will be private, but definitely not claustrophobic. The cabin design would also be featuring the ability that would help combine the seats to a double bed, particularly in the middle row.”
Al Baker said that it has often been seen that private suites turn out to be a bit claustrophobic. The current design of the new business class product will be exclusive to Qatar Airways and will ensure that they are not claustrophobic as usually thought.
Qatar Airways’ move has come at a time when strong rumors are currently doing rounds regarding the phasing out of the first class in the airline’s entire fleet except the Airbus A380 aircrafts. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has also announced it will be launching a new configuration in its economy class on the new Boeing 777 aircrafts later this year. There will now be 23 more seats to accommodate more economy class customers.
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