Qatar Airways readies "next-generation Qsuite" for Boeing 787-9 jets
How do you make the world's best business class seat even better? We'll soon find out...
By David Flynn, October 22 2019
From sliding privacy doors to high-quality materials and finishes, Qatar Airways' Qsuite is widely regarded as the world's best business class. Now the Gulf airline is readying what it describes as a "next-generation" Qsuite to take wing on its Boeing 787-9 fleet.
Qatar Airways CEO His Excellency Akbar Al Baker outlined his plans for the Qsuite 2.0 to Executive Traveller in February 2018, saying that the Dreamliner's narrower cabin compared to the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 required a redesign of the original Qsuite "because we (would) have to narrow the seat, and we don’t want to do that."
At the time, Al Baker also stated the second-generation Qsuite would be "at least 22% lighter than the current Qsuite", explaining that "these seats are not very light (and) we always endeavour to have a product that is lighter on an aeroplane."
Qatar's Boeing 787-9 jets will feature a new take on the original Qsuite.
That new Qsuite is now warming up on the launchpad and will make its debut on Qatar's factory-fresh Boeing 787-9 jets, although Al Baker – known as one of the airline industry's most perfectionist, attention-to-detail CEOs – says it's not quite there yet.
"Our Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft is ready, but we have delayed the delivery because our new business class seat is not ready," Al Baker tells AviationAnalyst.co.uk, and describing the seat as "a new variant, next-generation Qsuite."
The Son of Qsuite was originally slated for the Airbus A380, where the curvature of the fuselage in the upper deck business class cabin also ruled out the first-generation suite, but the decision to begin retiring the superjumbos from 2024 made those plans uneconomical.
Read more: No Qsuites business class upgrade for Qatar Airways Airbus A380s
Next on Qatar's business class playbook is the premium seat of its forthcoming Airbus A321neo and longer-range A321LR jets, which is expected to be a customised 'off the shelf' design rather than an all-new seat. Al Baker has said of the chosen seat "there will be lots of privacy".
David Flynn is in Doha as a guest of Qatar Airways.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2017
Total posts 79
Mr Joyce I hope you are reading this. Qatar do revolutionary game changing products rather than playing catch up or having products that are outdated at launch. Well done Qatar!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 317
When you have the cashflow and endless pit of your government backing, you can easily update to the newest toys even when you're losing money...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 168
Though if BA can do the Club Suites (albeit having missed a whole generation of business class product upgrades that should have happened 5 years ago), it can't all be about unlimited pots of money. Qatar has been economising in various ways, for example all of its alcohol in business class is now bargain bin stuff.
24 Oct 2019
Total posts 2
Economising in the wrong places it seems. Of course a smart move, if it is only bargain bin stuff they serve, some people will go without.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Dec 2014
Total posts 50
I am sure that if Qantas was also government owned, had unlimited funding and was not required to make a profit, they could do this too.
01 Nov 2018
Total posts 81
I seriously reckon if our government was to allow foreign airlines to fly domestic within Australia when they arrive, say for eg SQ flies from Singapore to Perth drop off passengers, than fly Perth to Sydney or Melbourne, than back to Perth drop off, than back to Singapore, they will clean up our domestic carriers such as Qantas and Virgin Australia.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Jul 2016
Total posts 57
Great thought! Let's give away more local jobs to subsidised overseas carriers so you can buy a cheap ticket.
03 May 2013
Total posts 672
Get your ground services working right first Mr Al Bakar. The subcontinent mafia that controls your airline, esp on the ground, is doing you a massive injustice. Also, sack your SYD airport staff..arrogance at checkin/boarding doesn't make for a great impression.
24 Oct 2019
Total posts 2
That seems to be most of the check-in personnel at Sydney Airport. Etihad (they don't work for Etihad) check-in is a pain unless you are flying business, and even then they have an attitude.
23 Apr 2019
Total posts 1
Qatar is my preferred carrier to Europe. One stop, great lounge, great service. If they can provide these amenities through State ownership, I don't mind, I am the beneficiary. I flew with Q Suites in Business class on a 777 last year, it was very relaxing.
I look forward to my next Qatar flight to Lisbon in February.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Sep 2017
Total posts 2
As a New Zealander QR offer a quicker, cheaper and all round better product than QF these days. It pains me to say that as a long term Platinum QFF but it's a fact. I understand the arguments around State ownership etc. but as an end-user I will struggle to go back having just experienced AKL-LHR in quality comfort with exceptional service on the SkyTrax Best Business Class in the world.
18 Feb 2018
Total posts 16
When any of the major airlines updates any of the flight classes we all ultimately benefit as it drives up the standard across the board. As consumers we get to choose whom we fly with, within our own budgetary constraints, and Qatar continues to push the boundaries.
As one who flew 67 times last year (Qantas, Emirates, Oman Air, Etihad, Virgin Australia, Malaysia, China Southern and Vietnam), bring on the upgrades because all of the above have excellent Business Class offerings.
18 Feb 2018
Total posts 16
Oh, I forgot..... and twice from Australia to the UK return with Qatar...... Without this competition we'd still be flying in Business Class seats that reclined no more than 45 degrees, where a 38" seat pitch was the norm........ and paying excessive prices for the privilege!
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