Company: QATAR AIRWAYS
Photo taken by: Andy Smulders
Date: 16/02/2005
Flying from: DOH / DOHA INTERNATIONAL
Flying to: LHR / LONDON HEATHROW
Subject: Cabins
Aircraft: AIRBUS
Type of Aircraft: 330-200
Registration: A7-ACC
Class of the cabin: FIRST and Business Class
Comments: This aircraft has been making its First Flight on the 17th of Jan 2003. On my way to Doha I flew in A7-AEA the new 330-300. The seats are different and also there is a very nice light system onboard with soft lights.


Finally I went on our trip to Doha with Qatar Airways. Due to all kinds of events the trip has been postponed twice. Doha does not have many hotels yet, but Doha is a city that is expanding very fast. Currently, if an event is going on you will find a lot of problems arranging a hotel room. Within the next year, 7 large hotels will be build and finished in Doha. Doha is hosting the Asian games in 2006 and needs more hotel rooms Before this trip I was thinking that Qatar Airways is just a Middle East airline like Royal Jordanian and Saudi Arabian Airlines and was not expecting a very good service. How that somebody can be very wrong, I will show you in this report.

My flight started in London on the 14 th of February boarding Qatar Flight QR 002. I was very tired because of my work the day before and did not to make photo's during this flight. I had a meeting at 9.00 and would arrive at 06.10, so a bit of rest would be great. Travelling in the business class. I didn't know that I boarded the brand new aircraft the airbus 330-300 A7-AEA. Delivered to Qatar Airways on the 26 of October 2004. This aircraft got different seats than the other older ( not older than 2 years ) airbus 330-200's. There is also a special light system similar than in the Lufthansa 340-600 aircrafts. Great and very relaxing to your eyes. Virgin Atlantic started with it 3 years back and many airlines have followed. The monitor is hugh about 15 inch. and the seat got a different design than in the 330-200 airbuses. But the recline remains the same.

Qatar Airways is growing so fast that even a modern airport is getting to small with weeks. Qatar Airways started 4 years ago with 4 planes and ordered over 60 new aircrafts including the Airbus 380. So that is what I would call growing fast. Because Doha is hosting the Asian games in 2006 they will still modernise the old ( 4 years old ) airport but they started building a new one very close to the current airport. The new Airport must be finished by 2009 and can accommodate the big 380's.

The plane landed on time and we where placed in a special Business Class bus which took us to the airport a ride from 4 minutes. The Business Class bus was special but what if you travel First Class with Qatar !!!!!! Than you get picked up by a BMW limo.


The First Class ride

We came to the airport where we got a VIP treatment. We where welcomed by the Al Maha Services and directed to a special arrival lounge.




The Al Maha Service for Vips.

They took my passport and arranged everything. walked with me and got a very quick custom channel. Got my luggage from the belt and dropped everything in my waiting transport to my hotel. A quick shower and off to my airport tour.

The airport is very modern one but getting too small. This is a airport where many countries would want to have but can afforded. Well in 2009 it will all be gone if the new one has been opened. Photo's will say enough.


The security


The check-in


The custom area


The shopping area


The shopping area


A view over the tarmac


The billboard


Eating area


Waiting area very clean

After this tour I made a photo special of the Qatar Airways Catering facilities. The photo's can befound on page 4 of my other photo website http://www.persfoto.com/database/thumbnails.php?album=227

After the catering trip I went to visit the Qatar Training Facilities.
Over 60 different nationalities are working for Qatar Airways and the training is hard. Language is perfect, English is no problem at all. Try flying with Air France and you now where I am talking about


This is just a demo setup


This is just a demo setup


This is just a demo setup


This is just a demo setup


The trainees had to be on the photo as well.

Then it was time to call it a day for the afternoon and get back to my hotel to relax and get some rest. In the evening I still had a dinner with the Senior officers of Qatar Airways, so had lots of things to ask about there airline which is growing so fast. The plans for the future, the new airport, there position in the market, there goals etc etc

I wished I could stay a bit longer but I had no time for that on that day. New work was waiting for me in Holland so it was time to go after 29 hours in Doha. Lucky I also did some exciting stuff like dessert racing early in the evening on my arrival day. Photo’s of that can also be found on http://www.persfoto.com/database/thumbnails.php?album=227

Before I would leave I had to check the First- and Business Class lounges. They are not that big but who would be expecting the fast growing of Qatar Airways.


Entrance of the First Class lounge


First Class lounge


Still empty but they where setting it up as I walked in 3 hours before the First flight


Sitting area

Opposite the First Class lounge you will find the Business Class lounge


The entrance.


The front desk


Sitting area


Still empty but they where setting it up as I walked in 3 hours before the First flight


The business centre

So it was time to fly back to London. But before we took of I first made some cabin photo's of the First- and Business Class.

First Class Cabin










Of course I took one of the First Class Amenity kits with me

Business Class Cabin










Of course I took also one of the Business Class Amenity kits with me

Finally the plane got his push back.


Passing the only Airbus 340-300 in Qatar Colours used by the goverment of Qatar.


Two saab Dragons taking off


Up in the air


The airport building


Doha


Doha


Doha


Wing tip

After take off it was time for our dinner, 7 courses ( but I did not take them all have to watch my weight  )



















The meals where served as they use to be served. Brought to you not on a tray but hot served by the very nice stewardesses with a metall handle.


They sure look very nice

Qatar Airways got a great IFE system. On demond all the way. And yes it was working perfect. 10.4 inch on this aircraft, 15 inch on the new Airbus 330-300




IFE monitor on the first seat

Still a quick read in the magazine, One part in Arabic and the other part in the Western language.






The Inflight entertainment guide.

After this I went for a nice sleep in the comfortable lie-flat seat.
You can see why I was miss with my thinking.

Qatar Airways is a true 5 star airline and will have the highest Travelquality ranking.

I still have problems of loggin in with my cable ISP. Parts of Holland can't connect to the airliners.net website. I have to use my UMTS account to post this. Please be patient with my reactions on your questions