Qatar Airways continues to move ahead with its expansion plans, overcoming all the challenges coming on its way. Qatar’s national carrier wrapped up a very successful week by signing new contracts in the United States.
Qatar Airways announced a significant order for 18 Gulfstream aircraft during a ceremony at the White House on July 9. The order worth over $1bn is for 14 Gulfstream G650ER and four Gulfstream G500 and will add to Qatar Executive’s growing fleet that currently includes six G650ER and four G500 aircraft.
Qatar Executive has been a Gulfstream customer since October 2014, when the charter service was announced as the international launch customer for the all-new G500 as part of a large fleet agreement that included the G650ER. Since that time, Qatar Executive has progressively increased their Gulfstream orders. This latest one, for a mixed fleet of large-cabin aircraft, further builds on the airline’s efforts to expand the Gulfstream cabin experience around the world.
On July 9, Qatar Airways and Boeing finalised a significant order for five Boeing 777 freighters during a ceremony at the White House. The order, worth $1.8bn at current list prices was previously announced with the signing of a Memorandum of Undertsanding at the Paris Air Show in June.
As one of the world’s leading air cargo carriers, Qatar Airways Cargo continues to expand its freighter fleet with the 777 Freighter.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the freight division of Qatar Airways, has witnessed significant growth over the past years, faster than any of its competitors. From three Airbus 300-600 freighters in 2003, today it is one of the top cargo carriers globally with a fleet of 23 freighters and over 250 belly-hold cargo aircraft. Cargo is a very important, profitable division of the Qatar Airways Group and makes an essential and paramount contribution to the group.
Another highlight of last week was creating a new record by Qatar Airways’ subsidiary. Qatar Executive (QE), together with the One More Orbit team, has made history by beating the world circumnavigation speed record for any aircraft flying over the North and South poles, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The QE Gulfstream G650ER departed Cape Canaveral, the home of NASA, on July 9 at 9.32am to begin its pole to pole mission.
Qatar Airways’ achievements show that the airline is going from strength to strength and the commitment to new orders will allow it to offer its bespoke luxury service to even more passengers.
