Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, has revealed several major new developments in line with his vision for the future of Qatar Airways. The new CEO wants to concentrate on innovation, which has previously been successful, with Qatar being the first airline to introduce business class suites. However, in a u-turn on its predecessor, who claimed not to want to continue with First due to the standard of QSuites, he has announced the introduction of new First Class cabins on some of its fleets.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC – his first since being appointed Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer in November 2023, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer stated: “This is a new era.” and spoke about his approach to developing a high-yielding concept for Qatar Airways’ new First Class cabin.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, stated: “Based on the demand from certain sectors, we see a high demand for First Class, and as such, have decided to introduce a newly-designed First Class cabin unique to Qatar Airways. No one can develop a First Class cabin better than us – we are combining the experience of flying commercial and executive jets to develop something new. We are 70 to 80 per cent ready and are only finalising colours. We are hoping to announce it soon.”
Engr. Badr Al-Meer further revealed that Qatar Airways’ redesign of its premium Qsuite is due to debut at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024. Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite Business Class was the first of its kind when it was launched in 2017 and continues to lead a new generation of business class suites. In 2022, Qatar introduced the premium suite for its B787-9 aircraft. You can read more about that seat in this article.
However, personally, I believe his key focus in business class should be aligning the offering across his fleet. There are so many different designs in business class—from the old B777 with 2-2-2 seats to the more modern suites and a lot in between. You can see the full range of Qatar seats in this article on Qatar’s business class.
He also underlined the ways in which digital innovation is helping drive organisational efficiencies. Meanwhile, he also revealed that they are placing large aircraft orders with both Boeing and Airbus to enable growth. “The markets that we want to grow in are China, India, Australia, Japan, Korea, and a few others,” Al Meer said.
Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer was appointed Group CEO in November 2023. In his first message to employees, he stressed the importance of cultivating trust and empowerment in the work culture. Under his leadership, various workplace initiatives have been successfully introduced that continue to improve employee satisfaction. Previously, there were a lot of rumours about harsh working conditions for Qatar crew, such as night curfews even when off duty, which the new CEO removed.
What do you think Qatar’s priority should be? Let us know in the comments below.
British Airways launch new advert
British Airways has unveiled its latest TV advert, directed by Emmy award winner Miles Jay, and features music from Groove Armada’s front woman, Saint Saviour. British Airways colleagues feature at the forefront of the campaign, in both the TV advert and imagery, from flight crew, cabin crew, and engagement centres to the airline’s head office
The advert premiered during Friday’s episode of “Gogglebox”.
Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said: “When it came to creating this advert and campaign, we knew we had to work with some of the best talent. As well as celebrating our amazing people throughout the advert and out of home, we worked with an incredible award-winning director and renowned singer-songwriter to really bring the concept of original journeys shaping your future in life.”
The images are meant to capture emotions on customers’ faces when they look out of an aircraft window and onto the world from 35,000ft. Rather than customers taking photographs from their seats out of the aircraft window.
British Airways will display adverts on 500 sites, with 11 prints throughout the UK, including digital billboards at Edinburgh, Cardiff, Manchester and Piccadilly Circus in Central London.
What do you think of the advert? Does it make you want to fly BA? Let us know in the comments below.
12 comments
Babies and children in cramped planes put most people off traveling.
Absolutely agree with you that the priority should be consistency in Business Class across the fleet. The thought of flying long haul in 2-2-2 fills me with horror!
Qsuite was designed to make best use of the wide fuselage of the A350, the seat sadly is too big for their smaller widebodies like the B787. Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to see the B787 fleet fitted with this new seat – doing so means we’ll be more likely to a suite on both of your flights when flying via Doha.
At some point we’ll may see the current Qsuite swapped out for the new seat – it’s the heaviest of all business class seats being flown by the different airlines, making the change will reduce fuel costs but will probably only be done when the plane undergoes it’s D check (performed every six years) when everything in the cabin is taken out (seats, toilets, galleys, overhead bins) so engineers can inspect the skin of the aircraft, inside out).
Unimpressive and instantly forgettable advert. Hard to tell until end that it’s an advert for BA. I wonder how much that production cost?
I agree. Doesn’t make me think of BA or want to fly them.
The discrimination against white men has become so common now. More chance of hell freezing over than flying BA after this.
Is it Mumsnet or an airline that needs to enhance its complete reputation?
I can’t use the word! What an utter waste of money, they’d be better spending it on upgrading their products & the service! Regardless of having children it’s not exactly an inviting advert!
How disappointing is the advert, just like British Airways is.
Usual rubbish from BA, who likes kids on a plane, let alone babies? Nothing inspirational. Nothing British. Usual non correlation with the countries demographics. Like many other terrible adverts these days, if anything would put me off a product or service.
BA advertising, like the airline, seems to have lost its way. The advert is confusing and I still don’t understand what it’s trying to say by the end of it.
A far cry from the British Airways Face advert from the late 80’s that one simply couldn’t help watching.
The other comments on BA’s new advert sadly hit the mark; it’s uninspiring, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, is difficult to even see it as a BA ad and doesn’t make you want to fly with them. No doubt completely lost on most viewers – you have completely forgotten what the ad even was seconds after seeing it.
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