Qatar Airlines today confirmed it will fly its newest state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 from Doha to Adelaide – increasing seating capacity by 16 per cent.
Qatar Airways has been voted Airline of the Year by Skytrax in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and most recently in 2019.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway said the larger aircraft was a result of growing demand for the route and great confidence in the Adelaide market.
The larger aircraft begins operations on 29 March 2020 and will provide 28 per cent more business class seats and will be the second largest premium cabin of all Qatar Airlines aircraft (behind the A380).
“South Australia enjoys a very strong working relationship with Qatar Airways since they began its services to Adelaide in 2016,” he said.
“It is great that this announcement flows on from the recent World Routes 2019 aviation development forum in Adelaide, when we hosted Qatar representatives in our city and were able to showcase our state to more than 180 airlines.
“By attracting the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft in the skies to Adelaide, we not only bring additional passenger capacity to our state but also increased opportunities for freight, export, education and enhanced business links.”
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, flies to more than 160 destinations across the globe with a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft.
Mr Ridgway said it was pleasing that senior airline representatives, who were in Adelaide in September for the 25th World Routes development forum, had returned to Doha singing the praises of South Australia.
“World Routes 2019 was an unrivalled platform for route development professionals to discuss, develop and plan network strategy, and we really showcased the best of South Australia to an extremely important global audience,” he said.
