Qatar Airways grows its A350-1000 fleet

Qatar Airways has upsized five A350-900s currently on order, to the bigger A350-1000 version.
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The amended order reinforces Qatar Airways’ position as  the A350-1000 largest customer with a fleet of 42 aircraft. The A350-1000’s fuselage is seven metres longer than its smaller brethren, providing greater capacity (44 more seats in Qatar Airways cabin configuration) that perfectly matches airlines’ needs on their growing long-haul routes.
 
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways is delighted to have upgraded five of its previously ordered A350-900 to the more recently launched A350-1000. Since taking delivery of the world’s first A350-1000 in February 2018, we have been extremely pleased with the aircraft’s performance, which has prompted us to update our original order. The A350-1000 has been a welcome addition to our fleet and very well received by our passengers who enjoy the new generation aircraft’s unprecedented levels of comfort and technology.”
 
“Since its entry into service, the A350 Family has proven outstanding reliability and efficiency. We are delighted to see launch customer Qatar Airways extend its confidence in the A350-1000,“ said Guillaume Faury, President Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “Qatar Airways is renowned for its standards of excellence, and we are pleased the A350-1000 delivers to their expectations, being the aircraft of choice to seamlessly increase capacity in unprecedented comfort on its growing long-haul routes.”
 
With 76 aircraft on order, Qatar Airways is the largest A350 XWB customer and currently operates 30 A350 XWBs comprising of 27 A350-900s and three A350-1000s.
 
The A350 XWB features an aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines and an Airspace cabin. To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 890 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 46 customers worldwide.