Qatar Airways Inaugural Doha-Sydney Service

By Grahame Hutchison on Thursday, 3rd March 2016

Qatar Airways today inaugurated its new direct Doha-Sydney service, with the arrival of Boeing 777-300ER Flight QR908 into Sydney at 6:30pm. Qatar's arrival completes the trio of major Gulf carriers into Sydney, joining Emirates and Etihad, both established operators at Sydney Airport. This also makes for an interesting competitive alliance dynamic, with Oneworld's Qantas and Qatar in direct competition with Emirates and Etihad for Gulf services, and onward connections to Euope, Scandinavian, Russia, the USA, and Africa. Qantas also has a strong parternership with Emirates, which has been in place for almost four years now (10 year agreement).

Akbar Al Baker, Qatar's CEO has said, "The expansion of our Australia services will undoubtedly boost and strengthen the trade and commercial links that exist between Qatar and Australia, setting the stage for even more robust partnership opportunities in the near future."

Qatar Airways QR908 Inaugural Arrival in Sydney - 02MAR16

The new Qatar Airways service will operate daily between Sydney and Doha, using the Boeing B777-300ER with a total of 335 seats (42 seats in Business Class in a 2–2–2 configuration and 293 seats in Economy in a 3–3–3 configuration). The Business Class Seats are fully flat bed. In Economy Class, the seats offer a pitch of up to 34 inches and 10.6-inch TV screens, designed to offer optimum viewing. Both Business and Economy class cabins offer in-seat PC power supply.

Passengers travelling with Qatar Airways to and from Sydney in Business Class on board the Boeing B777-300ER can enjoy one of the most comfortable fully-flat beds in the sky, with 78 inches of seat pitch. In addition, the on-demand à la carte menu service allows Business Class passengers to order anything from the menu at any time during the flight. The aircraft also features the state-of the-art Oryx One entertainment system, with more than 2,000 entertainment options on individual screens in all classes.

When flying with Qatar Airways, passengers can look forward to a convenient and seamless onestop transfer at the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport (HIA), home of Qatar Airways. The airport houses one of the world’s largest and most luxurious Business Class lounges – the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, and also has over 40,000 square metres of retail space and restaurants that includes a selection of more than 70 retail and 30 food and beverage outlets.

Qatar Airways currently operates direct services from Doha to Melbourne and Perth, with Adelaide being added as their fourth Australian destination on 2nd May 2016. The Doha-Adelaide servise will be operated by an Airbus A350, making Qatar the first Airline to operate the A350 into Australia.

Flight Schedule:

Flight QR908 departs Doha at 8.10pm and arrives in Sydney at 6:05pm

Flight QR909 depart Sydney at 10.20pm and arrives in Doha 5.05am the next day

Media Conference - Shangri-La Hotel Sydney - 03MAR16

Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 176 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. Qatar Airways won Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East at the 2015 Skytrax Awards. This is the third time the airline won the accolade of Airline of the Year.

Qatar Airways is a member of the Oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, Oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.

Qatar Airways launched Oryx One in 2015, an enhanced interface for its inflight entertainment system, increasing the number of movies and TV shows on board from 950 to up to 3,000. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 as well as select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the five-star airline’s on-board Wifi and GSM service.

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest cargo carrier, serves more than 45 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally on 176 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet now includes seven Airbus 330, eight Boeing 777 freighters and one Boeing 747 freighter.

Qatar Airways Boeing B777-300ER A7-BAO does a 2000ft pass along Runway 34L

At the end of the low pass QR908 heads towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge and then tracks along the harbour

QR908 on short final for Runway 34L

Touchdown on Runway 34L, and QR908 completes the inaugural service from Doha to Sydney

QR908 with reverse thrust and spoilers deployed

ATC instructs QR908 to take the Alpha 2 Rapid into Taxiway Juliet

QR908 approaching the Taxiway Lima intersection, beautiful in the early evening sunlight

QR908 at the Taxiway Lima intersection

QR908 braking as they approach the Alpha 2 Rapid exit, with leading edge slats, spoilers, full flap and reverse thrust all deployed

QR908 passing the iconic Sydney Control Tower

QR908 on Taxiway Alpha passing by the tail of One World partner airline Qantas

QR908 turns off Taxiway Alpha and into the International 2 Apron

Sydney Airport ARFF Tenders 1 & 5 provide a water cannon salute for QR908

A rainbow forms in the mist from the water cannon, hopefully a lucky sign for the Qatar Airways Doha-Sydney service

QR908 taxies through a rainbow on International 2

QR908 turns towards Gate 8 with the Sydney City skyline in the background

The beautiful livery on the Qatar Airways Boeing B777-300ER A7-BAO

QR908 inches towards Gate 8 to complete the inaugural service

The massive GE90-115B engines and raked wing of the Boeing 777-300ER

Engine shutdown, and QR908 prepares to unload the inaugural flight passengers

Early arrivals at what was to be a packed Media Conference

His Excellency, Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways CEO, presents a background of the airline itself, and the Boeing B777-300ER product offering on the Doha-Sydney service

Sydney Airport Corporation Limited CEO Kerrie Mather, welcomes Qatar Airways and CEO Akbar Al Baker to Sydney

The lighter side of Akbar Al Baker, joking with the Media

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President South East Asia and South West Pacific, Mr Marwan Koleilat

Qatar Airways Country Manager Australasia - Mr Adam Radwanski

SACL CEO Kerrie Mather presents Akbar Al Baker with an indigenous painting

Akbar Al Baker presents SACL CEO Kerrie Mather with a crystal horse

Akbar Al Baker and Kerrie Mather shake hands at the gift giving ceremony

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker

Qatar Airways Boeing B777-300ER model, the aircraft operating the Doha-Sydney route at present - Akbar indicated that they will change over to an Airbus A380 in June 2016, for a 4 month peak period

Qatar Airways Inaugural Doha-Sydney Service

Qatar QR908 Water Cannon Salute Time Lapse

From The Media Conference Question & Answer Session

Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Preliminary Accident Report

Qatar Airways

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