A last-minute aircraft swap meant my Boeing 777-300ER with Qsuites became an Airbus A330 with a far inferior “first” class seat, but my short flight from Doha to Amman still proved to be excellent. Qatar Airways A330 First Class...
My Flawless Qatar Airways 777-300ER Qsuite Flight
When I think about the best business class product in the world there is Qatar Airways Qsuite, then there is everything else. My latest 12-hour flight from Tokyo to Doha onboard a 777-300ER merely confirmed what I already knew....
First Impressions: Qatar Airways 787-9 Business Class
Rather than fly nonstop from Doha to Helsinki on a 787-8, I flew from Doha to Copenhagen then connected to Helsinki to get on a 787-9 flight, which features Qatar Airways’ latest closed-door business class product, a variation on...
I Watched In Horror As A Passenger Fell Down The Stairs While Disembarking My Qatar Airways Flight
I generally detest air stairs (versus a jet bridge) not so much because of the stairs themselves, but because it means a remote gate and crowded bus trip to or from the terminal. But now I have a more...
First Impressions: Qatar Airways A350-1000 Business Class
It’s really funny how little we are willing to accept in a business class product after flying Qatar Airways, especially onboard a longhaul A350-1000 flight in business class. Qatar Airways A350-1000 Business Class – My First Impressions I recently...
Boeing The Victor In Qatar Airways – Airbus Dispute
As Qatar Airways and Airbus face off in a row that has turned nasty, Boeing has been the primary beneficiary, today securing an order for up to 100 aircraft. Boeing Scores Huge Qatar Airways Order, Deepening Qatar Rift With...
Qatar Airways Announces Surprise Return Of Airbus A380
Qatar Airways has announced plans to bring back its Airbus A380 into service despite earlier statements suggesting there was no future for the superjumbo jet. Qatar Airways To Reactivate A380 This Autumn Speaking to Executive Traveler, Qatar Airways CEO...
Qatar Airways CEO Blames Ryanair Hijacking On Pilot Error
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker, never at a loss for words, has argued pilots of Ryanair flight 4978 made a “fundamental error” by flying to Minsk instead of continuing to Vilnius. He called the episode a “hijacking” and...
Qatar Airways CEO Mocks British Airways: The Power Of Shame
Sometimes shaming is a powerful tool to move others toward corrective action. I admire what Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker set out to accomplish in powerfully shaming British Airways. Qatar Airways CEO Shames British Airways Qatar Airways owns...
Qatar Airways CEO: “There Is No Future For A380”
Sam Chui recently sat down with H.E. Akbar Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways. The interview touched on many topics, but discussion on the future of the A380 caught my attention. Al Baker is clear: he sees no...
UPDATE: Airbus Downplays Composite Cracks On A350
Yesterday, I noted a report suggesting composite cracks had been discovered on a Qatar Airways A350. Now Airbus has refuted that report and claimed the A350 fuselage cracking was “superficial” and “cosmetic” in nature. Airbus: No Composite Cracks On...
Qatar Airways A Big Winner As Gulf Blockade Ends
The 2017 Gulf Blockade is over, with Qatar Airways a huge beneficiary of this diplomatic breakthrough. Gulf Blockade Over, A Win For Qatar Airways Raising alarm over an increasingly cozy relationship between Qatar and Iran, several Gulf nations enacted...
Uh-Oh: Qatar Airways Reportedly Finds Cracks On A350 Composite Fuselage
Composite cracks were reportedly found on the fuselage of a four-year old Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 undergoing a new paint job in Ireland. A stabilizer issue was also discovered. It will now be ferried to Airbus headquarters for further...
Qatar Airways Teases New First Class Suites On 777-9
Qatar Airways has hinted that its new Boeing 777-9 aircraft may have an exclusive four-seat first class cabin. As more carriers move away from first class, will Qatar Airways invest in a luxurious new product? Qatar Airways 777-9 First...
Qatar Apologizes For Illegal Airport Searches After Initial Non-Apology
After initially defending its actions, Qatar has apologized for subjecting women from at least 10 flights to deeply invasive physical exams in search of evidence surrounding the attempted murder of a baby girl. How should we weigh the apology...
Was Qatar Justified In Strip Searching Female Passengers After After Baby Found Abandoned In Airport Bathroom?
An airport cleaning crew found a premature baby abandoned in a bathroom at Doha’s Hamad International Airport. Acting quickly, authorities attempted to locate the mother. The result: international outrage over an invasive strip search of at least 13 female...
Qatar Airways CEO: “The Worst Is Not Behind Any Airline”
The ever-animated CEO of Qatar Airways is back, this time with a dire warning for the airline industry. Qatar Airways CEO Warns Of Grim Future For Worldwide Airline Industry Speaking on CNBC, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker warned:...
Is Qatar Airways Forcing People To Buy Business Class Seats If They Want To Travel To Australia?
Australia currently caps international arrivals at 50 passengers per flight, no matter how large the aircraft is. This has created a potential business opportunity for Qatar Airways (and every other airline serving Australia): buy business class or stay behind…...
Qatar Airways CEO Attacks British Prime Minister, Denounces Onboard Social Distancing
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, has a problem with social distancing and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The eccentric CEO is never one to mince words… Qatar Airways’ Al Baker on Prime Minster Johnson Speaking to Sky...
Qatar Airways Threatens To Sever Business With Airbus And Boeing
Qatar Airways’ Chief Akbar Al Baker has a warning for Airbus and Boeing: allow us to defer orders or we will never do business with you again. Qatar Airways Has Many Aircraft On Orders Despite a young fleet, COVID-19,...