Qatar Airways will showcase its new Boeing 787 seats with their Middle East debut at the region's largest travel trade fair taking place in Dubai next week.
Following the global unveiling of the airline’s 787 Dreamliner seats in Berlin last month, they will again come under the spotlight at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), a four-day event which attracts the crème de la crème of the travel industry from the Gulf, across the Middle East and around the world.
On display at Qatar Airways’ new-look exhibition stand, which also makes a first time presence in the Middle East, are the airline’s Business and Economy Class 787 seats. ATM runs from April 30 – May 3 at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The airline is the Middle East launch customer of the 787 with the first of 60 aircraft on order due for delivery this summer. The seat design is revolutionary and the proprietary to Qatar Airways, which worked closely with the manufacturer to have custom-made seats fitted on the aircraft – with space and comfort the biggest features of both cabins.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Al Baker said the airline’s presence at next week’s ATM travel fair will be the most exciting ever for the region’s travel trade as it will be the first time the carrier will debut both a new exhibition stand and new seats.
Industry analyst, Saj Ahmad said: ""As the Arab launch customer for the 787-8 Dreamliner, Qatar Airways' new seating mock up will certainly get tongues talking at the ATM next week.
"While CEO Akbar Al Baker has been vocal in his displeasure at the delays to the 787, he is acutely aware that this revolutionary, game changing airplane will transform Qatar Airways' competitive capabilities. With Etihad Airways not getting its bigger 787-9s till mid decade and no 787s on order at Emirates, Qatar Airways will be the first five-star rated carrier to use the airplane on routes such as the UK and USA later on this year.
"It also gives Qatar Airways a great platform to show off its new onboard technology, ranging from a suite of movies, touch control seat units as well as USB connectivity - just as the 787 showcases its engineering achievements, so too will Qatar Airways be able to demonstrate that it has arguably one of the best cabin designs and functionality in the industry."
"While CEO Akbar Al Baker has been vocal in his displeasure at the delays to the 787, he is acutely aware that this revolutionary, game changing airplane will transform Qatar Airways' competitive capabilities. With Etihad Airways not getting its bigger 787-9s till mid decade and no 787s on order at Emirates, Qatar Airways will be the first five-star rated carrier to use the airplane on routes such as the UK and USA later on this year.
"It also gives Qatar Airways a great platform to show off its new onboard technology, ranging from a suite of movies, touch control seat units as well as USB connectivity - just as the 787 showcases its engineering achievements, so too will Qatar Airways be able to demonstrate that it has arguably one of the best cabin designs and functionality in the industry."
Al Baker said: “ATM is the premier travel show in the Middle East where suppliers from across the travel industry showcase their newest offerings. For Qatar Airways, combined with a wave of new destinations we are promoting this year, and showcasing our new 787 seats and brand new exhibition stand for the first time in this region, we look forward to a busy week ahead meeting travel industry partners and corporate customers.
“The impending arrival of the Boeing 787 in Qatar Airways’ colours is the highlight of 2012 for us, being the first new aircraft type inducted into the airline’s fleet since our maiden Boeing 777 arrived in Doha in 2007.”
The seat configuration onboard Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787 makes it an industry leader with innovative design a hallmark of the interiors. Business Class is configured 1–2–1 featuring seats that convert into fully flat horizontal beds, while Economy Class has a 3–3–3 cabin layout.
Key features include an award-winning iTouch touch control unit, over 1,000 movie, programming and audio entertainment options, an iPort, USB port, remote data outlet, a custom designed culinary offering, plenty of storage space for personal items and more – all available in both cabin classes.
The new exhibition stand is a 200sqm two-storey structure with a crisp dark wood exterior, ambient lighting, a hand-blown glass chandelier, ample meeting spaces, contemporary furniture, with hospitality offered in true Qatar Airways style.
Article Source : Arabian Aerospace
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