Qatar Airways has launched its second A350 XWB, commissioning the aircraft on its Doha-Frankfurt route. The new Airbus joins the airline’s existing A350 aircraft, which has flown to the European hub from Doha daily since its arrival in January.
Following the introduction of the second A350 XWB, the airline is now scheduled to accept delivery of three more A350 XWB aircraft in June, July and August of this year, all of which will be deployed on the Doha-Singapore route.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive H.E. Akbar Al Baker said: “We are thrilled to have taken delivery of our second A350 XWB less than two months after the historic delivery of our first aircraft. The A350 XWB has proven to be a wonderful aircraft, both technologically and from a passenger perspective, and we are confident that this will continue as we introduce more and more A350 XWBs into our fleet.”
The A350 XWB service between Doha and Frankfurt, a major traffic hub in Europe, has provided a substantial capacity increase on the route. The aircraft is comprised of a two-class configuration with 36 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring an 80” fully flat bed and 17” HD in-flight entertainment screen. Economy Class meanwhile, is comprised of 247 seats at 18-inches wide in a 3-3-3 configuration, with up to a 32-inch pitch.
More than 70 percent of the A350 XWB’s weight-efficient airframe is made from advanced materials combining composites (53 percent), titanium and advanced aluminium alloys. Additionally, its innovative all-new Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier maintenance.
