Qatar Airways has provided some interesting updates regarding their future fleet plans, via an interview that the Gulf Times had with Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker.
Qatar Airways plans to retire their A330s
Qatar Airways plans to retire all of their Airbus A330s within the next three years, by replacing them entirely with A350s and 787s.
The airline recently phased out A340-600s, so the plan is now to do the same for A330s. At the moment Qatar Airways has a fleet of 25 A330s, including 12 A330-200s and 13 A330-300s.
Qatar Airways’ A330 business class
Qatar Airways’ average fleet age for their A330s is 11 years. That’s pretty young in absolute terms, though Qatar Airways has an especially young fleet, so for them it’s getting quite old.
I am curious what they’ll do with these planes. We know that they’re leasing several of them to Air Italy, as Air Italy will no longer get 787s. So I wonder if the plan is for most of these planes to go to Air Italy, or what.
We also learned a few months ago that Qatar Airways plans to retire their A380s at the ten year mark, meaning they’ll start to retire them in 2024.
Qatar Airways has quite a few wide body planes on order at the moment, including:
- 3 A350-900s
- 35 A350-1000s
- 10 777-8s
- 50 777-9s
- 30 787-9s
While I can appreciate the desire to diversify their fleet a bit, I’ve never quite understood why Qatar Airways chose to operate so many aircraft type. Currently their wide body fleet consists of A330-200s, A330-300s, 777-200LRs, 777-300ERs, 787-8s, A350-900s, A350-1000s, and A380-800s, and they’ll add 787-9s, 777-8s, and 777-9s to the mix.
Qatar Airways will also retire A320s
Qatar Airways also plans to retire their A320s in the coming years (they have 34 in their fleet), instead focusing on the A321.
Qatar Airways’ A320 business class
Qatar Airways has 50 A321 variants on order, including 40 A321neos and 10 A321LRs.
While the airline also has the 737 MAX 8 on order, it seems unlikely they’ll stick to that order. As Al-Baker explains:
“From 2024, our fleet will consist of Boeing 777s and 787s and Airbus A350s and A321s. At that time, there will not be any more Airbus A320s and A319s in our fleet.”
Given the lack of mention of the 737 MAX, Al-Baker being known for being an especially “picky” customer, and the current situation, it just seems unlikely they’ll follow through with that order.
Other interview tidbits
This interview also has some rather odd quotes, like this:
On the “load factor,” al-Baker said, “By the grace of God, we are doing very good now.”
Asked what has brought back the passengers, he said, “People choose to travel…and aeroplanes are the fastest means of travel.”
When referred to the presence of other “global super-connectors” in the Gulf region, al-Baker said, “But people want efficient airport, efficient airline, and good value for money and good service. All these we provide in Qatar.”
Bottom line
There’s nothing terribly surprising here. Qatar Airways has a really varied fleet, and they’re focused on keeping their fleet new. So we’ll see A320s and A330s retired over the coming years. I’m curious what ends up happening with the A330s — will they just “sell” them to Air Italy at a low cost, or where will the remaining ones go?
@Stu
It’s looking possible that Qatar will introduce a P/E product. There might be some news next month.
I'd imagine Al Bakar would rather dump those A330's/320's in the gulf, than see them go to Delta. ;-)
Delta might pick them up ...
Meanwhile EK is buying up more and more new A330s? What are they thinking?
Some of their A320s are quite old. Flew one without IFE on an overnight 5h flight. Felt like a 90s throwback.
At least I slept the whole way through, in coach no less. Was so dead tired I slept right as we took off and we were taxiing on the ground in Doha when I woke up.
“Currently their wide body fleet consists of A330-200s, A330-300s, 777-200LRs, 777-300ERs, A350-900s, A350-1000s, and A380-800s...”
You left out their 787-8’s.
Does QR have any intention of introducing a Premium Economy product? Surely there would be a market for this!
Are Qatar continuing their First class on any of the new 777s or a350s ordered.
It would be sad that First ends on the a380, and surely the most premium routes such as London can still sustain it?
Any news when they will complete the retrofit of the a350s with qsuites?
They should probably start with their ~ 20 year old A319s :) ( 2 of them only but still those are a shame by all means as for the horrible interior)
I can see some of the A332s and A333s going to Delta (and possibly even a handful of A320s, for parts). These are young frames in absolute terms.
Just asking, but when will the get rid of the A380s? And what is their intended replacement, 777-9X?
@Daniel from Finland: QR is headed the way of TK. These two airlines provide the best product and service—without any first class!
“From 2024, our fleet will consist of Boeing 777s and 787s and Airbus A350s and A321s. At that time, there will not be any more Airbus A320s and A319s in our fleet.”
So in five years' time, they will have phased out the A380s, too? And won't have First Class either (save for shorthaul F)? To me, that's bigger news than the A330s.
I have a feeling IAG/Aer Lingus will be all over those A330's!!
I don't know if I'm mistaken but doesn't Qatar also have the 787-8 in their fleet currently?
Asked what has brought back the passengers, he said, “People choose to travel…and aeroplanes are the fastest means of travel.”
WOW, brilliant answer, LOL
I wonder if any of these will end up with Air Canada.
Air Canada has been quietly picking up used A330s and A320s over the past few years.