Paddle Your Own Kanoo
• Mateusz Maszczynski
Qatar Airways is seriously considering introducing a premium-economy cabin, CEO Hamad Ali Al-Khater told Executive Traveller, but the airline has made no final decision. The possibility marks a shift from former chief executive Akbar Al Baker’s position that the carrier’s economy class already offered a comparable experience.
Qatar Airways
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Qatar Airways is seriously considering introducing a premium-economy cabin, CEO Hamad Ali Al-Khater told Executive Traveller, but the airline has made no final decision. The possibility marks a shift from former chief executive Akbar Al Baker’s position that the carrier’s economy class already offered a comparable experience.
Thales says its cloud-native FlytEDGE platform is preparing to enter service with Qatar Airways and Delta Air Lines. The announcement, made at APEX FTE EXPO 2026, marks the platform’s transition toward airline operations as Thales continues to develop its inflight experience offering.
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Qatar Airways plans to begin service to Western Sydney International on Dec. 15, 2027, with three weekly Boeing 777-300ER flights linking the airport to Doha. The airport will be the carrier’s seventh Australian gateway; Qatar Airways says it intends to increase the route to daily service over time.
Qatar Airways has fully retired its A330 passenger fleet, telling Reuters that the older widebodies are no longer economical amid higher fuel costs and prolonged disruption to Gulf aviation linked to the Iran war. The move marks another step in the carrier’s widebody fleet modernization.
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Qatar Airways has permanently retired its remaining Airbus A330 passenger aircraft, which stopped flying in late February after disruptions linked to the Iran war. The aging widebodies had remained in service roughly four years longer than planned because production delays held up their replacement aircraft; pilots are being offered temporary assignments with RwandAir.
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Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary says the airline will not add a fuel surcharge despite rising jet fuel prices, citing hedging through summer 2026. He expects competitors to pass costs to passengers, potentially accelerating failures and consolidation, while Qatar Airways is also holding off on fare increases for now.
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The ongoing conflict in Iran has become the biggest crisis in Qatar Airways’ more than three decades of operation, CEO Hamad Al-Khater said. The airline has taken measures to adapt to the conflict, underscoring the operational and strategic exposure of Gulf carriers to regional instability.
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Singapore Airlines has been named the world’s best airline in Skytrax’s 2026 rankings, moving ahead of Qatar Airways, which placed second, and Cathay Pacific, which ranked third. The results underscore the competitive importance of cabin comfort and service as airlines differentiate their long-haul offerings.
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