Qatar Airways supports Breast Cancer Awareness month

Source: Qatar Airways. Amenity kits go pink.

Limited edition amenity kits in pink are now being offered to Qatar Airways’ First and Business Class passengers to mark the airline’s continuing support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Passengers flying long-haul in first and business class will receive luxury amenity bags created exclusively for Qatar Airways by Italian luggage brand BRIC’S, in shade of pink called Rose Pompadour.

All passengers flying in First Class and Business Class with Qatar Airways will be offered pink versions of the airline’s signature miniature BRIC'S Bellagio and Sintesis suitcase amenity kits, for men and women, which feature a hard shell with a Tuscan leather trim. Each bag contains exclusive products from Italy’s Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, the environmentally-friendly olive oil company.

The skincare range includes lip balm, hydrating facial mist, and anti-ageing moisturiser in business class, with added Night Recovery Cream for first class kits. Pink socks, eyeshades and ear plugs complete the range with the addition of a BRIC’S signature luggage tag for First Class. A card urging customers to Think Pink! and encouraging them to support the fight against breast cancer is included with each kit.

Qatar Airways Senior VP, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Salam Al Shawa, said: “Qatar Airways is a very strong supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all the incredibly hard work that goes into research and development to help beat breast cancer. We hope these very special and limited edition pink BRIC’S luxury amenity kits for our male and female passengers flying long-haul in first class and business class will help demonstrate our ongoing commitment to raising awareness of breast cancer, and show our support for those affected by it.”

As well as being encouraged to wear pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many Qatar Airways employees will be taking part in a number of initiatives to alert staff to the dangers of the disease and generate funds towards fighting breast cancer. These include various workshops and awareness-raising lectures designed to raise awareness of the importance of self-assessment and early diagnosis.

Now in its 20th year, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 200 aircraft flying to business and leisure destinations across six continents. Qatar Airways will be adding more destinations to its network in 2017 and 2018, including Canberra, Australia and Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Rose Pompadour was created in France in 1757 at the Sèvres porcelain facility, named after a member of the French court, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour (Madame de Pompadour). Madame de Pompadour who was a major patron of porcelain. Rose Pompadour is one of five colours produced by Sèvres, which helped to define magnificence and luxury in eighteenth-century France.

Mileslife partnership allows app users to earn Qatar Airways Qmiles

Mileslife, a mileage earning app in China, welcomes Qatar Airways Privilege Club as its 12th airline loyalty programme partner. This is the first time ever that Qatar Airways has collaborated with a local company in China.

Mileslife App users can now earn Qmiles directly through daily lifestyle and travel spending while Mileslife has expanded its frequent flyer network to the Middle East.

Privilege Club is the frequent flyer programme of Qatar Airways. They have become popular with frequent flyers in China due to the number of flights they have that connect Europe and China. Every time members fly with Qatar Airways or use any of their partners' services, they earn Qmiles which can be redeemed for flights on Qatar Airways, oneworld airlines, partner airlines and services of non-air partners.

Mileslife offers over 2,000 mileage earning opportunities for users, ranging from mid-to-high end restaurants and leading spas to boutique hotels, luxury resorts, recreational activities and travel packages. Once users pay via the Mileslife App, they can earn up to to 1 airline mile with every 1 RMB (or equivalent) that they have spent and the miles earned will be directly credited into the frequent flyer account of the user within three to five working days.

Launched in 2015, Mileslife partners with China's leading loyalty programmes including China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club, China Eastern Airlines Eastern Miles, Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club, PhoenixMiles and Sichuan Airlines Golden Panda. The company is also the first Chinese startup to partner with British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Miles & More, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, United MileagePlus and EVA Air Infinity MileageLands.

"We've noticed most of the frequent flyers are loyal customers who tend to purchase value-oriented products," explained Troy Liu, founder and CEO of Mileslife. "After more-than-a-year operation, frequent flyers and our partners could distinguish the difference between Mileslife and other travel-related apps, and recognise our value."

Qatar Airways VP, Customer Loyalty and Relationship Management, Dr Ian Di Tullio, said: "We are excited about this innovative way to connect frequent flyers with daily lifestyle spending. Mileslife provides an excellent opportunity for us to activate the frequent flyer market in China and offers even more opportunities for our members to earn benefits, privileges and awards."

Interested?

Mileslife App users can book a flight at qatarairways.com through to 1 September 2017 and save up to 20% on fares. They can also earn 100% bonus Qmiles in premium class and 50% bonus Qmiles in economy class for flights taken till 31 March 2018.

Transit overnight at a luxury Doha hotel free with Qatar Airways

Source: Qatar Airways. Doha skyline.

Qatar Airways has launched a stopover package in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) to promote and market Qatar as a destination of choice for international travellers.

The package offers transit passengers the opportunity to discover Doha with free luxury hotel stays and complimentary transit visas. The unique offer is part of a broader campaign called +Qatar designed to encourage transit passengers to consider adding Qatar to their itinerary.

The promotion invites all Qatar Airways transit passengers to add Doha to their vacation by taking advantage of a free one-night hotel stay from a selection of the country’s best four- and five-star hotels in the capital city. Throughout the summer (Q2 to Q3), the national carrier, with the support of QTA, will offer a night's accommodation at hotels such as The Four Seasons, Marriott Marquis, Radisson Blu and the Oryx Rotana. They can stay a little longer with a second night’s stay for a US$50 booking fee.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is more than just a national flag-carrier for Qatar; we are proudly patriotic and want to share Qatar’s many exciting attractions with our passengers from around the world. This exclusive initiative provides the opportunity to add an extra element to our passengers’ existing travel plans with a complimentary hotel stay in some of Doha’s finest hotels. We want to ensure that our passengers have a memorable experience every time they travel with Qatar Airways, and now, we’re going even further to make sure that we exceed their expectations.”

Chief Tourism Development Officer, Qatar Tourism Authority Hassan Al-Ibrahim said: “It was a great source of pride for all of us in Qatar when we launched the transit visa last November. We have already seen a surge in stopover passengers, with a 53% increase recorded in March 2017, compared to the same month last year. With the launch of +Qatar today, we aim to convert a larger portion of the 30 million passengers passing through Hamad International Airport into stopover visitors. We are delighted to make Qatar more accessible to people from around the world and invite them to discover our country, our cultural heritage and our natural treasures.”

Interested?

To be eligible for this offer, passengers must book their flight online at www.qatarairways.com/plusqatar, select ‘multi-city’ and choose their hotel once they receive their flight confirmation. The online transit visa application is also free and is eligible for those in transit between five and 96 hours. This offer is available to Qatar Airways passengers flying both Premium and Economy, and demonstrates the airline’s commitment to its brand ethos of Going Places Together. Additional stopover packages are offered by Discover Qatar.

Win a trip to Barcelona with UberHOLIDAY and Qatar Airways

Source: Uber Malaysia. Qatar Airways will fly three lucky winners and their partners on a whirlwind trip to Spain.

On 12 January 2017, Uber users in Malaysia stand a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience in Barcelona, Spain with UberHOLIDAY. This promotion is brought to Uber users in conjunction with the Qatar Airways Travel Festival 2017.

In partnership with Qatar Airways, three winners and their partners will be picked up and driven straight to the airport to fly to Barcelona on the same day, provided they have valid passports and meet visa requirements for Spain*. Hotel stays will be provided, as will VIP tickets to watch an FC Barcelona match on 14 January 2017. The return flight from Barcelona to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will depart on Sunday, 15 January 2017.

There will be a total of 36 winners, including the three flying to Barcelona. The other winners will receive prizes such as return flight ticket vouchers (four available), Qatar Airways aircraft models (33 available) and limited edition Uber swag.

Interested?

Open up your Uber app on 12 January 2017 from 11am to 2pm
Move the slider to UberHOLIDAY and request.
Have the new Uber app? Just tap the UberHOLIDAY card at the bottom of the app to request.
On a successful request, your ride containing exclusive prizes will arrive at your doorstep.

Terms & conditions

• Only three grand prize winners will get a ride to the airport to fly to Barcelona, Spain with their partners on the day itself. 
• Please make sure you hold a valid passport and meet visa requirements before requesting. 
• Demand will be high and availability limited. 

*Malaysian passport holders do not need a visa to enter Barcelona, Spain, subject to immigration checks.

Qatar Airways will be first in the world to know where its planes are, minute by minute

Qatar Airways will be the global launch customer of GlobalBeacon, a technology solution by Aireon and FlightAware that is designed to provide up-to-the minute global tracking of all aircraft equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) in 2018, approximately three years before the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) recommendation for compliance by 2021.

Source: Qatar Airways. Plane in Qatar Airways livery in action.

GlobalBeacon combines FlightAware’s worldwide flight tracking information, including origin, destination, flight plan route, position, and estimated time of arrival with data from Aireon’s space-based ADS-B aircraft surveillance system, due to be operational in 2018. The solution will provide Qatar Airways with state-of-the-art technology to meet and exceed Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS) requirements and recommendations.

In addition to aircraft tracking and location reporting requirements, GADSS requires aircraft to provide immediate notification of abnormal events, regardless of air traffic unit boundaries and without a degradation of baseline search and rescue services. Further, distressed aircraft status tracking under GADSS can be activated by the pilot, automatically by the aircraft and remotely by the operations control centre.

Announced by ICAO in March of 2016, the GADSS was created to help improve the ability to detect commercial aircraft in remote locations. The key components of GADSS recommend that aircraft report their position to the airline’s operations centre at a minimum of once every 15 minutes under normal flight circumstances. However, if an aircraft should become in distress, position reports are then to be provided every minute. GlobalBeacon will provide a permanent minute-by-minute reporting capability, exceeding the ICAO recommendation.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar Al Baker, said: “As one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, both our needs, and our drive to deliver the very best services for our global passengers, are continually evolving. GlobalBeacon will seamlessly integrate with our existing ICAO 2018 compliant flight watch technology (Total Operations System), and further enhance our fleet management by providing updates every minute.

“I am proud of Qatar Airways’ leadership in this vital area of aviation safety and awareness. We will be the first airline in the world to have the capability to use worldwide satellite air surveillance to support our airline operations and to achieve the highest level of flight tracking standards ahead of the ICAO 2021 mandate.”

“Qatar Airways is a leader in the aviation industry, and their proactive approach to implementing the GADSS recommendations reinforces that point,” said Aireon CEO, Don Thoma. “With a modern fleet of 190 aircraft flying all over the world, across remote and oceanic airspace, Qatar Airways and GlobalBeacon are an ideal match and no new avionics will be required. We’re excited to welcome them as a partner.”

“With GlobalBeacon, Qatar Airways is getting the most state-of-the-art solution to meet GADSS recommendations in the industry,” said FlightAware CEO, Daniel Baker. “The adoption of this solution shows their commitment to their customers, employees and international community to help improve airlines and aviation stakeholder’s ability to locate aircraft in distress and improve search and rescue capabilities.”

Qatar Airways brings the A380 to Australia via Sydney

Source: Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways' A380 aircraft makes its Australian 

debut in Sydney.

Sydney has become Qatar Airways’ first destination in Australia to be served by the A380 aircraft, just six months after the super jumbo craft was introduced to the carrier’s global network.

Following the route’s inauguration with the Boeing 777-300 on 1 March 2016, Qatar Airways has seen a steady growth in demand for its service on this route. The A380 aircraft increases Qatar Airways’ current daily capacity by 44% to meet growing travel and trade demand. The 517-seater offers twin decks in a tri-class configuration of eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar Al Baker said: “From the moment we inaugurated service to Sydney earlier this year, we have been welcomed with open arms. Customers flying to and from Sydney appreciate our global route network and our efficient flight schedules, which save them hours of time on the average itinerary. We are pleased to respond in kind, with the introduction of the A380 service to Sydney, offering 517 seats per flight.

“Qatar Airways brings travellers from Australia to more destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa than any other airline serving Australia today. Australia is one of the main hubs of the business world in Asia Pacific, with many passengers flying worldwide for business and leisure. What better way to serve travellers from this key destination than to introduce our iconic A380 to the country, starting with the nation’s biggest hub, Sydney.”

“We’re thrilled that Qatar Airways has upgauged to an A380 within six months of the airline’s launch in Sydney, which is testament to their early success and strong loads,” Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said.

The A380 aircraft will feature a First Class Cabin with ultra-wide seats, which automatically recline into a flat bed, two-passenger table extension dining, sleeper suits, flight slippers and amenities from Giorgio Armani. Passengers travelling in Qatar Airways’ Business Class can also enjoy private aisle access with the 1-2-1 seat configuration and a suite of connectivity options including on-board Wi-Fi. First and Business Class passengers also have access to an on-board lounge located on the upper deck of the super-jumbo.

Economy Class passengers also benefit with the added spaciousness of the A380, with higher ceilings on the main deck, a wider seat configuration and design to offer more leg room plus contoured headrests.

When transiting through Qatar Airways’ hub, Hamad International Airport in Doha, passengers travelling from Sydney can enjoy a comfortable and efficient transit. The airport has more than 40,000 sq m of retail space and restaurants including more than 70 retail and 30 food and beverage outlets, as well as a 25m swimming pool, gym, hotel and spa.

Interested?

Daily flight schedule:

DOH to SYD on QR908 

Departs 9:40pm, arrives 7:35pm the next day

SYD to DOH on QR909 

Departs 10:25pm, arrives 5:05am the next day

Qatar Airways introduces A380 to Guangzhou route

Source: Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways senior management pictured with senior airport officials at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, following the arrival of the airline’s A380 inaugural flight to Guangzhou.

Qatar Airways has upgraded its aircraft flying to Guangzhou, China as of 1 July.

The inaugural A380 flight to Guangzhou was met with a warm welcome as it touched down for the first time and now represents the airline’s fourth A380 destination, after Bangkok, London and Paris. Qatar Airways became the first Middle East airline to fly to Guangzhou in 2008 with a Boeing 777.

The A380 is spread across twin decks in a tri-class configuration of eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class and will serve Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the third busiest airport in China, and the city of Guangzhou on the Pearl River Delta, home to 57 million people.

The airline currently flies a modern fleet of 186 aircraft to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways announces Chiang Mai as a new destination end-year

Source: Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways has announced that it will expand its network to Chiang Mai in Thailand from 16 December 2016. There will be five five flights a week via Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, with an A330-200.

The largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai will be the fourth city in the Asian country to be served by Qatar Airways, which currently flies to Bangkok and Phuket, and will commence flights to Krabi on 6 December. With the addition of Krabi and Chiang Mai to its network Qatar Airways will increase its flights to Thailand from 39 to 48 per week by the end of 2016.

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President East Asia & South West Pacific Marwan Koleilat said: “As we are constantly expanding our network in Southeast Asia, the popular tourist destination of Thailand is an obvious target for growth. We have seen increased travel demand for our services to Thailand and now with the introduction of our award-winning product to popular secondary cities such as Chiang Mai and Krabi, we provide overseas visitors and tour operators with greater flexibility and ease of travel when designing their Thailand holiday itineraries.”


Flight Schedule:

QR918 departs Doha (DOH) to Chiang Mai (CNX) at 2:30am and arrives 2:55pm
QR919 departs Chiang Mai (CNX) to Doha (DOH) at 4:45pm and arrives: 10:15pm.

The Airbus A330-200 has 24 seats in the Business Class cabin with a 2-2-2 configuration and 180-degree (fully-flat) bed. The Economy Class cabin features 236 seats in a 2-4-2 / 2-3-2 configuration, with a 32" seat pitch and 18.5" seat width. Qatar Airways currently has 15 A330-200s in its fleet of 185 aircraft and has been operating this aircraft type since 2002.
The launch of flights to Chiang Mai comes at a time when Qatar Airways is rapidly expanding its network. The airline will inaugurate 14 new destinations on its route map throughout 2016 and into early 2017. Other new destination launches in Asia Pacific include Auckland on 6 February 2017.

Qatar Airways adds Airbus A380s to Doha-Guangzhou route

Qatar Airways has will up-gauge its Doha-Guangzhou service with the introduction of its flagship Airbus A380 on the route. Guangzhou will be Qatar Airways fourth A380 destination, after London, Paris and Bangkok.

Daily flights on board the world’s largest commercial aircraft will begin 1 July 2016 from Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Passengers travelling to and from Guangzhou on Qatar Airways QR874 and QR875 will enjoy a unique and enhanced travel experience on the airline’s A380 super-jumbo aircraft. It is anticipated that travellers will be able to fly the A380 to Guangzhou for the Canton Fair - one of China's largest import and export trade events - in October. Qatar Airways is the official airline partner for the event.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar Al Baker, said: “This year marks our eighth anniversary of operations in Guangzhou and we are delighted to celebrate this milestone by introducing our bespoke A380 aircraft, re-affirming our long-standing commitment to China. The Pearl River Delta region is one of China’s most vibrant trade and travel hubs and we have witnessed steady passenger growth both to and from Guangzhou over the years. Passengers from Asia can now enjoy their entire journey on our luxurious A380 aircraft when they fly to popular cities such as London and Paris via our state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport in Doha.”

The A380 provides outstanding levels of comfort and reliability using state-of-the-art technology and sets new benchmarks for all the key qualities related to a passenger’s wellbeing while on board. Wider seats, lower noise levels, draught-free air circulation, and accurate temperature control are among the many advancements on the A380 that keep passengers feeling fresh and comfortable during a long flight.

The 517-seat aircraft is spread across twin decks in a triclass configuration of eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class. Seats in each cabin class are proprietary to Qatar Airways and have been crafted in close collaboration with the designers and manufacturers.

Source: Qatar Airways. In first class.

The First Class cabin features eight exclusive suites on the upper deck in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat features a 90" pitch with a fully lie-flat bed, 26" HD in-flight entertainment screen and direct aisle access. The First Class cabin also offers features such as spa-inspired bathrooms with luxurious amenities.

Qatar Airways’ Business Class cabin on the A380 features 48 seats on the upper deck in a 1-2-1 configuration, with an 80" full flat bed, 17" HD in-flight entertainment screen and direct aisle access. The upper deck also features an in-flight lounge offering First and Business Class passengers an escape from the typical airplane environment, a Qatar Airways experience that is unique to the A380. In addition, First and Business Class passengers can look forward to an on-demand à la carte service menu and Giorgio Armani amenity kits.

Source: Qatar Airways. The in-flight lounge.

The two Economy Class cabins on the Qatar Airways A380 can be found on the upper deck in a 2-4-2 configuration and on the main deck in a 3-4-3 configuration. Each Economy Class seat is 18.5" wide with a 32" seat pitch. Coupled with the higher ceilings on the main deck and a configuration that uses fewer seats, the inflight environment contributes to a feeling of real spaciousness when onboard.

Interested?

Doha (DOH) and Guangzhou (CAN) daily flight schedule (all times local)

Departs DOH QR874 at 2:30am, arrives CAN at 3.30pm
Departs CAN QR875 at 12.55am, arrives DOH at 4am

Watch the video on Qatar Airways' A380

Qatar Airways to fly to Yerevan, Armenia from May

Source: Qatar Airways. Yerevan in Armenia.

Qatar Airways has announced that from 15 May, it will fly four times weekly non-stop between Doha and Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

Speaking at the launch of Qatar Airways’ new scheduled service to Los Angeles this month, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, commented that passengers on the new direct service to and from Yerevan will benefit from easier access to the rest of the world via Qatar Airways’ global network.

“Qatar Airways has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, launching new destinations around the globe, while also establishing our new home and hub, Hamad International Airport. With the new service to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, Qatar Airways is again enhancing its worldwide footprint and expanding travel opportunities for business and leisure passengers alike,” he said.

The airline will fly the A320 aircraft direct to and from Yerevan on the four-weekly schedule, featuring a two-class cabin configuration comprising of 12 seats in business class and 132 economy class seats.

Schedule: non-stop Doha (DOH) to/from Yerevan (EVN) - all times local;

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
QR 285 departs DOH at 20:25; arrives EVN at 00:40+1 (next day)

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
QR 286 departs EVN at 03:25; arrives DOH at 05:30

Qatar Airways creates safety video starring FC Barcelona La Liga players

Qatar Airways has unveiled a football-themed safety video to engage passengers. The 4-minute video stars six of FC Barcelona’s (FCB's) La Liga players – Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Pique, Rakitic and Mascherano – alongside fans and Qatar Airways crew as they demonstrate important safety information to passengers.

The addition of global sports personalities, the unexpected environment of the football pitch and the entertaining style of the video have all been carefully considered to create an impactful moment that captures the attention of passengers and conveys essential content.

Scenes from the new video show the players bringing important safety messages to life in a uniquely FCB way, including Suarez taking to the pitch in a life vest, Pique causing a stir as he arrives and also demonstrating the ‘brace position’. Filmed mainly at Camp Nou Stadium, the home of FCB, the video features many familiar sights for fans such as the pitch, the stands, the changing rooms and even the team bus.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways is renowned for being an award-winning and ambitious airline consistently delivering a superior experience for our passengers. But we are also a young company and as such we understand the need to stay fresh, relevant, and to have fun. With people travelling more frequently we saw a need to reinvigorate the safety video moment and by inviting our partners at FCB to join us we have something truly unique and attention-grabbing. I believe that having FCB global superstars as our safety ambassadors reinforces our commitment to operational excellence.”

Salam Al Shawa, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications added, “This new safety video gives us an opportunity to show another side to our brand personality, a fun and humorous side. We took into account our passengers’ experience with standard safety videos, how important it is to be informed, and so we designed the video to be engaging as well as informative. By leveraging our strategic partnership with FCB and taking our passengers to the Camp Nou Stadium, we’ve brought to life our brand promise of Going Places Together while enhancing our passengers’ on-board experience.”

FCB players have appeared in other Qatar Airways videos since 2014. The new safety video is expected to further strengthen brand awareness by not only engaging with the passengers that travel with Qatar Airways but also, within the FCB global fan base that exceeds 80 million people on Facebook alone.

During 2015, Qatar Airways has extended its route network to 154 destinations including flights to Nagpur (India). In the next few months the airline is further expanding its network to Sydney (Australia), Adelaide (Australia) and Ras Al Khaimah (UAE). 

Interested?

The new video will be shown on the Qatar Airways in-flight entertainment system, airing on aircraft from December. View the video

FCB players also star in the airline’s new Wi-Fi video. Qatar Airways offers passengers on connected flights special package deals for getting online while in the air.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on Ooredoo's sponsorship of Wi-Fi on Qatar Airways flights

First 15 minutes of Wi-Fi on Qatar Airways free, thanks to Ooredoo

Source: Ooredoo. The MoU was signed by (from left) Waleed Al Sayed, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker.

Ooredoo and Qatar Airways have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will see Ooredoo sponsor Qatar Airways’ Onboard Wi-Fi service to enhance the customer experience on Qatar Airways flights and provide unmatched connectivity in the air. The three-year agreement positions Ooredoo as the exclusive onboard Wi-Fi sponsor for all Qatar Airways flights that are equipped with onboard Wi-Fi*.

With the Onboard Wi-Fi service, customers can use portable electronic devices to access emails, browse the Internet and also send SMS/MMS via their smartphones once the service is enabled on board.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways continues to strive to offer the very best onboard experience for our customers, and our cutting-edge onboard Wi-Fi service provides an incredible connection. We are proud to work with Ooredoo, a leading Qatari company, to bring this service to the world.”

Waleed Al Sayed, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Ooredoo strives to ensure that customers can always enjoy the best network wherever they are in the world, and our partnership with Qatar Airways takes our commitment to connectivity to the skies. Qatar is leading the way in the incredible facilities being offered to visitors and residents, and we are pleased to extend our work with Qatar Airways through this important agreement.”

Passengers on the Qatar Airways flights will be made aware that the network is available with the Ooredoo logo on the login screen, crew announcements, in-seat pocket information and on-flight screen adverts. With Ooredoo’s sponsorship, all passengers can enjoy the first fifteen minutes of Wi-Fi for free. After the free period, customers will be able to continue using the Wi-Fi service by entering their credit card details when prompted.

*Onboard Wi-Fi is available on all Qatar Airways A380, A350, B787, A319, and select A320 and A330 aircraft.

Etihad, TCA Abu Dhabi and Miral join hands to promote Abu Dhabi as a destination of choice

Etihad Airways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), and also with Miral Asset Management (Miral), which oversees the development and management of a range of hospitality, sports, entertainment, retail and leisure destinations on Yas Island. The two MOUs will cement stronger ties between the three parties, and promote the global appeal of Abu Dhabi as a year-round tourist, business and cultural destination.

The exclusive partnership will see the three parties drive the growth of inbound destination and stopover tourism to Abu Dhabi by joining forces on various strategic activities including co-branded marketing and communication, market intelligence and data exchange, loyalty and affinity programmes, and business and leisure events within the Emirate and around the world.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Today we sign our joint commitment to make Abu Dhabi the best destination brand in the world. This unique and important partnership between the national airline, TCA Abu Dhabi and Miral will boost Abu Dhabi’s image exponentially. As the national airline, we continue to foster mutually beneficial relationships with the leading drivers of growth and progress in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.”

Etihad Airways will coordinate more closely with TCA Abu Dhabi across a range of disciplines and targeted B2B and B2C programmes, and will continue to grow the established and successful Essential Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Now and Access Abu Dhabi trade and consumer programmes.

Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “2016 will see many more guests coming to our warm and welcoming home, and enjoying all the exciting vacation and business opportunities it has to offer.”

Miral and Etihad Airways will enter into a close destination-driven relationship in which Hala Abu Dhabi, the airline’s destination management subsidiary, will be providing a wide range of tourism, marketing and distribution services, including product development, global distribution and digital capabilities.

Mohamed Al Zaabi, Chief Executive Officer of Miral, said: “Abu Dhabi is a world-leader in state-of-the-art leisure, business and sporting facilities, and nowhere is this more evident than on Yas Island. Together, we will increase in-market trade cooperation, international branding exercises, media and loyalty programmes, as well as education and PR strategies."

Previous collaborative work between Etihad Airways and TCA Abu Dhabi has yielded highly successful global campaigns such as the Travellers Welcome campaign and the Abu Dhabi golf and MICE programmes.

Etihad announces A380 services between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will operate its Airbus A380 aircraft between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai from 1 May 2016. Other A380 include Sydney and, from June 2016, Melbourne.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s 496-seat A380 has 50% more seats than the Boeing B777-300ER it replaces, offering more options for tourism growth into India, US and Abu Dhabi. The aircraft features the only three-room suite in commercial aviation – The Residence by Etihad – as well as nine First Apartments, 70 Business Studios, and 415 Economy Smart Seats.

In 2014, nearly one million guests who travelled on Etihad Airways’ India flights began their journey from outside the country, representing almost 70% of total passengers who flew to and from India with the Abu Dhabi-based airline. The aircraft will operate daily on flight EY204 from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, and EY203 from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, both of which carry the 9W code of Jet Airways, Etihad Airways’ strategic partner. 

The flights connect seamlessly with Etihad Airways’ A380-operated services to New York, allowing guests to experience the double-decker aircraft throughout their journey. Guests on board Etihad Airways’ A380 service will also have access to popular connecting destinations over Abu Dhabi, including Bahrain, Doha or Jeddah in the Gulf region.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Etihad Airways A380 has set a new benchmark for luxury and innovation and we are delighted to announce that this world-class service will soon be available to guests flying to and from Mumbai.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India, welcomed the news, saying: “This announcement by Etihad Airways ‎is yet another sign of international confidence in the powerhouse economy of Maharashtra. I look forward to the growth in tourism and business that this service can bring to our state."

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about Etihad's new flights to Melbourne, Australia

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on Etihad's boutique hotel flight experience

Etihad introduces limited edition city-themed Business Class amenities

Source: Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways has launched a new range of collectible limited edition Business Class amenity kits, the result of a unique collaboration between the airline and luxury travel brand LUXE City Guides, the guide for savvy travellers. The kits embody the flair synonymous with the Etihad Airways brand, and contain inflight amenities and natural facial products developed exclusively by London-based skincare and grooming brand Scaramouche + Fandango.

Six new stylised kit designs have been created by LUXE City Guides for Etihad Airways, inspired by some of the iconic cities on the airline’s extensive global network. The designs for Abu Dhabi, London and Madrid, have been specially produced for Etihad Airways, whilst the Los Angeles, Sydney and Hong Kong kits feature bespoke LUXE artwork. The initial limited edition offering will be expanded at a later stage, with new designs and more cities to be launched.

Each kit contains a customised Etihad Airways LUXE City Guide which corresponds to the showcased city, covering everything from hotels and restaurants, to spas, bars, boutiques and bespoke shopping, as well as services, specialists and personal guides. Scaramouche + Fandango has developed a unisex comfort kit and skincare offering in collaboration with Etihad Airways. Specially formulated for skincare needs inflight, the range consists of parabens-free products, high in natural ingredients, to enhance onboard wellbeing.

Calum Laming, Etihad Airways’ Vice President Guest Experience, said: “The introduction of these kits is not about providing brand names to our Business Class guests. It is about intelligent design, functionality and providing them with products which are attractive, natural, useful and re-usable. Collaborating with relevant, progressive lifestyle brands such as LUXE City Guides and Scaramouche + Fandango has enabled us to tailor amenities to the requirements of our guests while retaining all the authentic charm and sophistication of the Etihad Airways brand.

“Etihad Airways continues to reimagine the flying experience, setting a new benchmark for innovation and luxury. The introduction of these kits is part of a much bigger journey which was started with the introduction of our new revolutionary cabins on the flagship Airbus A380 and Boeing 787s, and the new service concepts introduced fleet-wide. These collectible kits also reflect the global nature of our business, while simultaneously highlighting the inspiration, style and unique qualities of our home, Abu Dhabi.”

Simon Westcott, LUXE City Guides Chief Executive Officer, said: “Etihad Airways offers one of the best inflight experiences in the world. In partnering with LUXE City Guides to create its new Business Class amenity kits, Etihad helps ensure that the premium experience extends long after its guests have landed. It is great to be working with fellow innovators.”

The comfort kit features a luxurious facial moisturiser enriched with vitamin E and made with anti-oxidants and essential oils to combat fatigue and the lower humidity levels in the cabin. Triglycerides and essential oils rebalance the skin’s natural moisture. A honey and shea butter lip balm enriched with vitamin E keeps lips hydrated. The new kits also include a sleep pack containing socks and eyemask, a care pack containing cotton pads and earbuds, in addition to a dental pack and earplugs.

The Abu Dhabi kit uses a unique design pattern inspired by the rich architectural heritage of the Emirate, translated into a style best described as Arabian Modernism. The pattern reflects the Etihad Airways’ brand and colour palette.

Etihad Airways introduces baggage policy enhancements

Source: Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways will introduce new baggage policy enhancements in conjunction with the launch of its new Fare Choices tariff structure, effective for tickets issued on or after 14 September 2015. The changes will provide greater benefits to guests, with increased rewards for Etihad Guest loyalty programme members, the airline said. 

The new policy has been introduced to respond to individual customer needs with greater flexibility and to more closely align Etihad Airways with other Etihad Airways Partner airlines. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: “In line with industry best practice, we are moving to a fair and transparent baggage concept. Our new Fare Choices are an easier way for guests to understand what they are paying for, offering clearer pricing, and the flexibility which best suits their travel plans. This also applies to their baggage requirements.”

Most routes will now operate on a piece concept basis. This means that customers are entitled to one, two, or three bags, depending on their Fare Choice, route, and Etihad Guest membership status. As part of the policy change, the cost of excess baggage will be dramatically cut on the majority of fares. On some routes the cost of buying an additional 23kg piece of baggage will be reduced by up to 90%, with a further reduction of up to 30% if pre-purchased directly with Etihad Airways up to 24 hours before travel.

Higher tier Etihad Guest members now receive an extra bag or additional weight allowance depending on the market and route. 

New baggage policy highlights include:

· Increased allowance for Economy Value and Economy Freedom guests on certain routes from 30kg to two pieces of baggage at 23kg per bag – a total allowance of 46kg.

· On selected routes, the Economy Class allowance has been increased for all fare choices from 30kg to two pieces of baggage at 23kg per bag.

· In premium cabins on certain routes, the allowance has been increased from 40kg to 50kg to two pieces of baggage at 32kg per bag.

· Etihad Gold and Platinum members will receive one extra piece of baggage at 32kg on piece concept routes, compared to 15kg and 20kg respectively previously.

· For piece concept markets, Etihad Silver members now receive a minimum of two bags of 23kg.

Interested?

More information on Etihad Airways’ baggage policy 

Etihad revamps baggage policy, fare structure

Source: Etihad.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will implement a new fare structure from 14 September 2015 to provide more choice and clarity when booking flights.

A total of eight new Fare Choices will be introduced, allowing travellers to tailor their bookings to their individual needs more closely. The Fare Choices are transparent and differ in baggage allowance, flexibility and included benefits that would otherwise need to be purchased as separate options. Additionally, an adapted baggage policy will provide guests with a more standardised baggage allowance structure across the Etihad Airways Partner network, while also reducing the price for excess baggage charges on most routes.

All bookings ticketed from 14 September 2015 will be split into distinct fare choices. The structure for Economy Class includes Economy Breaking Deals, Economy Saver, Economy Value and Economy Freedom. Business Class includes Business Breaking Deals, Business Saver and Business Freedom, while in First Class there will only be one fare family – Freedom.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Ultimately, this is about providing choice. In most industries there is a move towards allowing customers to tailor and customise their experience, and ours is no different. When it comes to booking a flight, not everyone’s needs are the same. Some guests want to travel light and on a budget, whilst others want to be able to make last-minute travel decisions, carry extra baggage or earn more miles. For example, if a guest wants more flexibility, more luggage, and priority check in, they can select our Economy Freedom Fare Choice.”

A new baggage policy has also been announced to more flexibly respond to individual customer needs and to better align Etihad Airways with other Etihad Airways Partner airlines.

As part of the policy change, the cost of excess baggage will be dramatically cut on the majority of fares. On some routes the cost of buying an additional 23kg piece of baggage will be reduced by up to 90%, with a further reduction of up to 30% if pre-purchased directly with Etihad Airways up to 24 hours before travel. The new baggage policy will also come into effect for bookings on or after 14 September.

The new flexible fare structure will be available through all of Etihad Airways’ booking channels, including its website, retail outlets and global contact centre, as well as travel agencies.

Interested?

Read more on Etihad Airways’ new Fare Choices and baggage policy

Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways launch codeshare agreement

Royal Jordanian (RJ) has further enhanced its ties with oneworld partner Qatar Airways by launching a new codeshare agreement that is set to further expand travel opportunities for the customers of both airlines.

Through the new agreement, which began August 6, 2015, RJ passengers travelling between Amman and Doha on both Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways will benefit from the same airline code and a streamlined level of services from the oneworld partners.

Members of the airlines’ frequent flyer programmes will also be able to collect points on each other’s flights, with this initial route paving the way for additional codeshare expansions in the near future between the airlines across destinations in the US and Asia.

RJ President/CEO Captain Haitham Misto said: “Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways enjoy a strong relationship, and they are both keen on providing superb on-board and on-ground services. This agreement will further enhance the cooperation between our two companies, thus offering our passengers more travel options and frequencies to cities around the world.”

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Becoming a member of oneworld has enabled Qatar Airways to strengthen its competitive offering, while expanding travel options to passengers around the world within this leading global alliance network. The launch of this new code share agreement with our fellow oneworld member airline Royal Jordanian demonstrates this and will allow passengers to benefit from seamless journeys around the globe.”

Etihad deploys Dreamliners along UAE-Singapore route

Etihad Airways has set a new benchmark for luxury travel on the UAE-Singapore route with the daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner services. First Suites, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats are available on the Abu Dhabi-Singapore route. Flight timings offer seamless two-way connections to 35 cities across Etihad Airways’ global network. 

Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said deploying the Dreamliner to Singapore reflected the importance of the route to the airline and its commitment to a best-in-class experience. “The Etihad Airways B787-9 Dreamliner is the most customised aircraft of its kind in the sky. The ground-breaking, next-generation First Suites, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats offer a superior level of luxury and comfort and will transform the inflight experience," he said.

“Never before has the airline had such a compelling proposition nor been as strong a competitor in the Singapore travel market.”

Hogan also highlighted the airline’s Singapore flight timings and better connectivity to the network via the Abu Dhabi hub. Flight EY470 departs Abu Dhabi at 10pm and touches down at Singapore’s Changi Airport at 10.15am. The return flight, EY473, departs Changi Airport for Abu Dhabi at 8.10pm and arrives in the UAE capital at 11.45pm local time.

“With evening departures in both directions, we offer our guests in the UAE and Singapore more convenient travel times and improved connectivity to 35 destinations in the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Europe," he noted.

“This includes seamless connections to our flagship A380 services to London enabling guests to experience the luxurious First Apartment and The Residence, the world’s first private three-room cabin on a commercial airliner.”

Etihad Airways’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner carries 235 guests – eight in First Class, 28 in Business Class and 199 in Economy Class – and offers levels of luxury, comfort, entertainment and inflight connectivity unrivalled in commercial aviation.

The décor and lighting on board Etihad Airways B787-9 Dreamliner is inspired by contemporary modern Arabian design, complementing the airline’s Facets of Abu Dhabi design identity introduced in late 2014.

First Class guests experience luxurious private suites with Poltrona Frau leather-upholstered seat and ottoman, a personal wardrobe, chilled mini-bar, a 24" TV monitor and centre seats which can be joined to create a double bed. A professional onboard Chef offers First Class guests a bespoke dining experience, preparing fine cuisine inflight from fresh produce.

Business Class guests enjoy the comfort and space of the airline’s new Business Studios, each offering direct aisle access, a fully flat bed of up to 80.5" in length, and a personal 18" touch screen TV with noise-cancelling headsets. Food and Beverage Managers, handpicked from some of the world’s best restaurants, oversee the service of a ‘dine anytime’ a la carte and snack menu in the Business Class cabin.

In Economy Class, the Economy Smart Seat provides enhanced comfort with a unique, ergonomic ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat, a 32" seat pitch and a generous 6" recline. Guests can enjoy more than 750 hours of on demand entertainment on an 11.1" HD screen with an intuitive interface and video touch screen handset.

These guest experience innovations are complemented by the Dreamliner’s DNA – the commercial aviation industry’s largest windows; air that is cleaner, more humid and at a higher pressure for better comfort; large overhead stowage bins; soothing LED lighting; and technology to sense and counter turbulence for a smoother ride.

Etihad Airways commenced three weekly flights to Singapore on September 28, 2007 and went daily on February 1, 2013. It introduced its award-winning First Class to the route on 1 June 2015 with the deployment of a three-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

Qatar Airways adds third Doha-Jeddah daily flight

Qatar Airways launched a new daily All-First Class service from its hub in Doha to Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, adding a third daily flight to the route.

The Airbus A319 aircraft, which is fitted with a single aisle, two-by-two seating configuration with 40 seats, will enable passengers to experience the comfort of a private jet complemented by Qatar Airways’ five-star hospitality. Passengers on the A319 All-First Class flight are eligible to visit the Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

Source: Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways’ A319 first-class seats recline into fully-flat beds while the recently-launched Oryx One inflight entertainment system has increased the number of movies and TV shows on board from 950 to up to 2,000. Personal entertainment can be enjoyed with noise-cancelling headphones.

The new daily flights between Doha and Jeddah are scheduled as follows:

Depart Doha QR3002 at 9am. Arrive Jeddah at 11:20am.
Depart Jeddah QR3003 at 12:20pm. Arrive Doha at 2:40pm.