Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al-Baker (left) poses with Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner after the signing by Qatar Airways for nine additional 777 Extended Range Aircraft at Le Bourget airport on Monday on the day of the opening of the International Paris Air Show. QATAR Airways has ordered for nine Boeing 777-300 ER (Extended Range) passenger aircraft on the opening day of the Paris Air Show on Monday. The additional aircraft will help the airline open up new routes and add capacity to existing markets in its rapidly-growing network. The airline's outstanding order for seven Boeing 777s will increase to 16 - and boost its current fleet of 35 triple sevens to 51 aircraft. Addressing media at a press conference at Le Bourget, venue of the Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “With its reliability, economics and range capability, the 777 will continue to play a key role in enabling Qatar Airways to operate more direct non-stop flights from our hub in Doha to destinations in many markets including Australasia and the United States. “We have already shown a desire to open up new destinations in the US and the Boeing 777 will further feature in our expansion plans in this part of the world, in addition to increasing frequency to other destinations. “Since Qatar Airways started taking deliveries of Boeing 777s in November 2007, we have quickly expanded this fleet, flying to key long-haul destinations to all parts of the world - Europe, Southern Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America - and selected cities in the Middle East. The 777 has proved popular with our passengers being an aircraft of choice and it has made a positive impact on our operations, now established as the flagship aircraft of our long-haul flying program.” Of the current 777 fleet, Qatar Airways operates a mix of passenger and cargo aircraft - 22 Boeing 777-300ERs, nine 777-200LRs (Long Range) and four Boeing 777 freighters, with a fifth cargo plane set to be delivered to the airline this month. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner said: “It is a great honor to have Qatar Airways operate the 777 as its long-haul flagship aircraft. The 777s' unrivalled economics and customer-preferred passenger experience make it a cornerstone of Qatar Airways' success.” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker is is pictured signing an order for nine Boeing 777 aircraft at a press conference on the opening day of the Paris Air Show. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, left, with Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner celebrating a new order by the airline for nine new Boeing 777 aircraft. Qatar Airways has its newest aircraft, a 787 Dreamliner, on static display at Le Bourget having flown yesterday direct from Boeing's assembly plant in Seattle to make its French debut at the Paris Air Show. The new addition takes the carrier's Dreamliners up to six aircraft. One of the fastest growing airlines in the world, Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 125 aircraft to 128 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas. Qatar Airways has so far launched six destinations this year - Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (US), Salalah (Oman) and Basra (Iraq) - the latter started earlier this month. Over the next few months, the network will expand with the addition of further destinations Sulaymaniyah, Iraq (August 20), Chengdu, China (September 3), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Sept. 18), Clark International Airport, Philippines (Oct. 28) and Philadelphia, US (April 2, 2014). Qatar Airways currently has orders worth over $50 billion for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 Family of aircraft. In addition to winning Skytrax's prestigious Airline of the Year 2011 and 2012, Qatar Airways was named Best Airline in the Middle East for the seventh year in a row, and its Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport was named Best Premium Service Airport for the third consecutive year in 2013. In October 2012, Qatar Airways became the first of the major Gulf carriers to officially announce plans to join a global alliance having been invited into the oneworld group. – SG
